Costa Rica's $35 million prison holds just 123 of 5,100 beds

123 inmates currently occupy the newly opened High-Containment Center Against Organized Crime in Costa Rica, leaving 4,977 of its 5,100 beds empty. The Justice Ministry released images on Tuesday showing the detainees in orange uniforms with shaved heads, seated with hands behind their necks.

The facility, located on the outskirts of San Jose, cost $35 million to build. President Laura Fernandez inaugurated the prison on October 15. The project was constructed with assistance from the Salvadoran government. Justice Minister Gabriel Aguilar stated that the center represents a new chapter in the country's penitentiary history.

The prison's capacity equates to 20 percent of Costa Rica's total prison population. Aguilar said the facility will help reduce overcrowding in the existing system. The administration views the CACCO as a symbol of a stricter approach to crime. A ministry statement described the center as a monument to national security and a guarantee that the state will exercise authority without hesitation.

The expansion of prison infrastructure comes as Costa Rica experiences rising violence. The country recorded 905 homicides in 2023, followed by 876 in 2024 and 873 in 2025. Authorities attribute most of these killings to disputes between criminal groups over drug trafficking routes and markets.

Costa Rica has traditionally been regarded as one of the safest nations in Latin America. Right-wing leaders in other Latin American countries have sought to replicate this mega-prison model.