Guatemala and Mexico implement measures to address prison security

Guatemala's Ministry of the Interior has launched an international public bidding process to acquire advanced security technology for 10 prisons. The initiative, funded by a loan from the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE), aims to modernize the penitentiary system through the acquisition of body scanners. These devices are required to scan a person in under 10 to 16 seconds and must be capable of detecting narcotics, explosives, firearms, and other contraband.

In Mexico, the Secretary of Public Security for Tamaulipas, Carlos Arturo Pancardo Escudero, denied allegations that state prisons are being used as hubs for telephone extortion. Responding to claims that most extortion calls originate from correctional facilities, Pancardo stated that the five state prisons undergo inspections at least once a month and that no mobile phones have been recovered during these operations. This follows federal efforts in Mexico to block communications in specific prisons by removing antennas to prevent criminal activity.