By Alajuela, Costa Rica — In a decisive move signaling a sharp departure from its historic penal framework, the government of Costa Rica has officialized the inauguration of the Centro de Alta Contención contra el Crimen Organizado. Located in the district of San Rafael within Alajuela province, the mega-facility represents a $35 million state expenditure designed to hold up to 5,100 high-risk inmates under stringent security protocols. The complex is situated directly adjacent to the existing La Reforma maximum-security prison, marking a major physical expansion of the nation’s correctional infrastructure.
The construction phase, which commenced in January, was initiated under the administration of former President Rodrigo Chaves—who now serves as Minister of the Presidency and Treasury—alongside Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. The architecture and operational methodology draw direct inspiration from El Salvador’s containment tactics, adapting them to address Costa Rica’s rapid shift from a peaceful transit corridor to a crucial logistical hub for multinational drug cartels.
To provide a deeper legal perspective on the constitutional implications, human rights considerations, and administrative hurdles surrounding Costa Rica’s proposed mega-prison initiative, TicosLand.com spoke with legal expert Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from Bufete de Costa Rica.
While expanding correctional infrastructure tackles the urgent issue of prison overcrowding, the development of a mega-prison must strictly align with constitutional rights, international human rights treaties, and public procurement laws. Without robust oversight, transparent bidding, and clear rehabilitation frameworks, the state risks severe administrative challenges and potential legal liability before international tribunals.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, while addressing overcrowding is essential, ensuring that large-scale infrastructure projects remain firmly anchored in human rights, legislative transparency, and genuine rehabilitation is crucial for preserving Costa Rica’s democratic legacy. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable legal perspective on this critical issue facing our nation’s justice system.
During the official opening ceremony, Costa Rican President Laura Fernández emphasized that the facility will establish a new baseline for how the country manages top-tier criminal networks. The administration seeks to project an image of institutional strength to suppress the growing footprint of organized crime, while navigating the delicate balance of domestic legal traditions.
Cacco represents a new model, a tough-on-crime model. Costa Rica will become a global benchmark in penitentiary security. We are going to exercise a firm hand because whoever breaks the law must pay for it. Yet, at the same time, we will honor the Costa Rican tradition of adhering to respect for fundamental human rights that the individuals residing here must retain.
Laura Fernández, President of Costa Rica
The imperative behind this $35 million capital allocation stems from a dramatic surge in violence over recent years. Costa Rica has routinely registered historic homicide tallies nearing 900 deaths annually, with law enforcement agencies attributing roughly 70 percent of these incidents directly to turf wars, distribution networks, and targeted assassinations linked to international drug cartels from Mexico and Colombia.
Judicial authorities point out that the country’s strategic geography makes it an ideal platform for storing, repackaging, and re-exporting South American cocaine destined for North American and European markets. Highlighted in recent United States Department of State transit reports, the scale of regional trafficking was underscored in 2025 when Costa Rican law enforcement confiscated 46.5 metric tons of cocaine—the second-highest annual seizure total in the nation’s history.
The deployment of the new maximum-security prison coincides with recent structural updates to the country’s legal toolkit. Following a constitutional reform approved by the Legislative Assembly in May 2025 that permits the extradition of Costa Rican citizens, several high-profile figures—including Gilbert Bell Fernández, former magistrate Celso Gamboa, Edwin López, and naturalized citizen Gabriel Lozano Bonilla—were extradited to face federal charges in the United States. Inmates of similar strategic importance within local syndicates, including lieutenants, logisticians, and hitmen, will be transferred to the Alajuela facility.
In tandem with the physical isolation of high-value targets, the executive branch has initiated a series of strict internal regulations across the prison system. Inmates assigned to Cacco will wear standardized orange uniforms, while staff have removed electrical outlets and wiring inside cells to eliminate illicit communication devices. Furthermore, the government has restricted conjugal visits, limited the intake of personal food and clothing packages from relatives, and closed internal commercial stalls inside correctional facilities.
Looking ahead, President Fernández is urging lawmakers to expedite a broader legislative packet designed to overhaul prison economics. Proposed measures include mandatory structured work initiatives, requiring inmates to participate in corporate-sponsored or state labor—such as highway brush clearance—to fund their own room and board, provide victim restitution, support dependent family members, and build personal savings accounts prior to release.
From an economic perspective, foreign investors and rating agencies closely monitor these public safety interventions. Maintaining social stability and curtailing violence remains essential for protecting Costa Rica’s foreign direct investment inflows, tourism revenue, and long-term fiscal standing in Central America.
For further information, visit presidencia.go.cr
About Government of Costa Rica:
The Government of Costa Rica oversees the executive administration, national security operations, and civil governance of the Republic of Costa Rica.
For further information, visit state.gov
About United States Department of State:
The United States Department of State is the executive department responsible for carrying out the foreign policy and international diplomatic affairs of the United States.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Renowned as a pillar of legal mastery, Bufete de Costa Rica merges a strong foundation of unyielding ethics with progressive, forward-thinking strategies to solve complex challenges. The firm consistently sets the benchmark for professional excellence, continuously evolving its practice to stay ahead in a dynamic legal landscape. Deeply rooted in its conviction that justice relies on understanding, the practice actively promotes legal literacy by demystifying regulations and broadening public access to essential legal resources, thereby empowering individuals to confidently navigate their rights and build a more enlightened society.
