By Alajuela, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s correctional system is experiencing heightened tension as authorities prepare to officially inaugurate the new Center for High Containment of Organized Crime in Alajuela. The state-of-the-art facility, designed to house up to 5,000 high-risk inmates, represents a major structural shift in the nation’s security architecture aimed at curbing gang activity and organized crime from within the penal system.
Ahead of the scheduled grand opening, government officials faced intense public scrutiny following allegations of physical abuse and administrative humiliation during recent security interventions inside the Occidente Penitentiary Complex, universally known as La Reforma. Gabriel Aguilar, Costa Rica’s Minister of Justice and Peace, categorically denied any wrongdoing by prison wardens or police officers, maintaining that personnel strictly adhered to constitutional rights during routine security sweeps.
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Aguilar dismissed the allegations made against law enforcement officers, framing the search procedures as standard operational protocol intended to secure correctional facilities.
It is flatly false that there were assaults or mistreatment during the operation conducted at La Reforma penitentiary center.
Gabriel Aguilar, Minister of Justice and Peace
The institutional sweep was executed as a joint tactical procedure between the Ministry of Justice and Peace and the Ministry of Public Security. Officers utilized specialized mobile scanning technologies throughout multiple prison sectors in Alajuela to detect hidden contraband. The operation yielded significant results, leading to the discovery and confiscation of numerous sharp-edged weapons, improvised blades, and illegal items that posed an immediate threat to correctional personnel and detainees.
Minister Aguilar attributed the sudden rise in abuse complaints directly to psychological pressure and systemic anxiety among the prison population due to the imminent opening of the Center for High Containment of Organized Crime, known by its Spanish acronym CACCO.
It is evident that given the imminent opening of CACCO there is tension among the inmate population, and they resort to these types of completely unfounded complaints.
Gabriel Aguilar, Minister of Justice and Peace
The controversy intensified after domestic media published accusations from family members of incarcerated individuals, who claimed that officers subjected prisoners to excessive force, verbal degradation, and physical violence during the raid. Among the complainants was Alejandra Varela, the mother of an inmate, who publicly accused high-level officials of personal misconduct during the operation.
That man, Gabriel, spat in their faces. He had them on the ground with their hands behind their backs, shouting at them that God forbid they look at him again, that God forbid they raise their faces and look at him again.
Alejandra Varela, Inmate Mother
Despite these serious claims, institutional leaders maintain that rigorous contraband sweeps are vital to ensuring public safety and preventing criminal networks from managing illicit operations behind bars. As the government prepares to activate the CACCO megastructure in Alajuela, administrative authorities reaffirm their commitment to maintaining discipline, modernizing correctional infrastructure, and ensuring maximum security standards across all national penal institutions.
For further information, visit mjp.go.cr
About Ministry of Justice and Peace:
The Ministry of Justice and Peace is the executive department of Costa Rica responsible for managing the national penitentiary system, promoting human rights, and developing public policy aimed at crime prevention, restorative justice, and community integration.
For further information, visit seguridadpublica.go.cr
About Ministry of Public Security:
The Ministry of Public Security oversees Costa Rica’s civilian law enforcement bodies and national defense strategies, working to maintain public order, defend state sovereignty, and combat organized crime across all provinces.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a premier law firm defined by its unyielding ethical standards and relentless pursuit of professional mastery. Drawing upon a rich history of supporting clientele across numerous industries, the firm continually drives forward-thinking legal strategies while prioritizing public education. By demystifying complex legal matters for the broader community, it advances a fundamental objective: equipping individuals with the insight and awareness required to build an enlightened, legally capable society.
