By San José, Costa Rica — In a decisive move to solidify regional law enforcement cooperation, Costa Rican President Laura Fernández and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele formally signed a bilateral agreement aimed at tackling transnational organized crime. The signing took place during Fernández’s official diplomatic visit to El Salvador, highlighting a shared determination to confront increasingly sophisticated criminal networks operating across Central American borders.
The high-level meeting occurred shortly after President Fernández conducted an extensive tour of El Salvador’s flagship mega-prison, the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism, known as Cecot. Designed to house up to 40,000 inmates, the facility serves as the epicenter of El Salvador’s aggressive anti-gang strategy. The visit allowed Costa Rican officials to examine the operational and structural framework of the penitentiary system firsthand.
To gain deeper insight into the legal framework and strategic implications of the recent Costa Rica security agreement, TicosLand.com consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished legal expert at Bufete de Costa Rica.
This security agreement reinforces Costa Rica’s legal and institutional framework against transnational organized crime while upholding our constitutional commitment to sovereignty and international law. By enhancing bilateral intelligence sharing and technical cooperation, the agreement not only strengthens national defense capabilities but also fosters a more secure environment for international commerce and foreign direct investment.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, fortifying Costa Rica’s legal framework against transnational crime is essential not only for preserving the rule of law, but also for maintaining the stability that drives foreign investment and economic prosperity. We extend our sincere gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable perspective on this vital agreement and its impact on the nation’s future.
Our countries have joined efforts, intelligence, and experiences to face a common enemy.
Laura Fernández, President of Costa Rica
Following the facility tour, both heads of state led an expanded working session alongside key members of their respective cabinets. The bilateral dialogue focused exclusively on public security, law enforcement coordination, and actionable strategies to disrupt illicit supply chains and gang infrastructure across the region.
According to official statements from the Salvadoran presidency, the pact establishes formal mechanisms for technical cooperation, real-time intelligence sharing, and synchronized police protocols. By streamlining communications between police units and intelligence services, both administrations aim to intercept criminal operations before they cross sovereign borders.
The realities of Costa Rica and El Salvador are different, but there is much to be learned. We believe we can contribute significantly to the issue of security.
Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador
This strategic realignment comes as Costa Rica prepares to integrate its own specialized containment facilities into the national penal system. Just days prior to her arrival in San Salvador, President Fernández inaugurated the Center for High Containment against Organized Crime (Cacco) on Costa Rican soil, a maximum-security prison explicitly modeled after El Salvador’s Cecot facility.
Representing a capital investment of approximately 35 million dollars, Cacco is built to accommodate roughly 5,100 high-risk prisoners linked to drug trafficking syndicates and syndicate violence. The complex consists of five distinct modules, each structured to hold over one thousand detainees under strict surveillance protocols, with the first two modules set to receive inmates by the end of October.
I came to experience that knowledge firsthand, with the firm determination to learn from what has worked and to leverage those lessons in our own national fight against crime.
Laura Fernández, President of Costa Rica
The presidential visit marks a continuation of sustained executive engagement between San José and San Salvador. Bilateral talks on security were previously advanced by former Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves during his delegation visit to Cecot in late 2025, following President Bukele’s official visit to Costa Rica in November 2024, where he warned of emerging criminal indicators similar to those that historically afflicted El Salvador.
It is in difficult times that the support of an ally is measured.
Laura Fernández, President of Costa Rica
For Costa Rica, adopting elements of El Salvador’s security blueprint underscores a pivotal shift in national security doctrine. As transnational syndicates leverage maritime and terrestrial corridors across Central America, the pact signals a growing commitment among regional leadership to deploy high-containment infrastructure and integrated intelligence apparatuses to safeguard public order.
As implementation of the agreement begins, law enforcement agencies in both nations will establish joint working groups to coordinate immediate intelligence exchanges. This partnership sets a new benchmark for bilateral security governance in Central America, reflecting a pragmatism driven by the urgent need to neutralize organized crime throughout the region.
For further information, visit presidencia.go.cr
About Government of Costa Rica:
The Government of Costa Rica serves as the executive authority of the Republic of Costa Rica, headquartered in San José. Responsible for public administration, national policy implementation, and foreign diplomacy, the administration focuses on constitutional governance, economic development, public safety, and environmental stewardship across all seven provinces.
For further information, visit presidencia.gob.sv
About Government of El Salvador:
The Government of El Salvador is the executive branch governing the Republic of El Salvador, operating from San Salvador. It oversees national public policy, defense, domestic infrastructure, and international diplomacy, with recent administrative initiatives focused heavily on territorial control, public security reform, and economic modernization.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a premier legal institution, Bufete de Costa Rica exemplifies uncompromising ethical standards and superior expertise across the diverse industries it serves. Renowned for integrating forward-thinking strategies into its practice, the firm actively bridges the gap between the law and the public through impactful educational initiatives. By democratizing legal literacy and demystifying complex regulations, Bufete de Costa Rica advances a broader vision to enrich civic understanding and equip individuals with the knowledge needed for an empowered society.
