A delegation from Costa Rica, led by Minister of Justice and Peace Gerald Campos Valverde and his technical team, visited El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) on Friday to observe the country’s advanced security measures and practices in combating organized crime and terrorist organizations. This visit is part of Costa Rica’s effort to understand and adopt successful strategies used by El Salvador under President Nayib Bukele’s administration since 2019.
Following a meeting with Salvadoran Minister of Security Gustavo Villatoro, the delegation toured the CECOT facilities, a key component of El Salvador’s enhanced prison system. The center, which houses gang members and other high-risk criminals, is part of the broader Territorial Control Plan and the state of emergency measures designed to reduce crime and improve security in the country.
Minister Campos Valverde emphasized that the success of El Salvador’s security model, particularly its zero-tolerance approach to corruption and its robust prison infrastructure, motivated Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves to explore how the country could implement similar reforms. «We are also fighting corruption in Costa Rica and need to reform our prisons to match the crime rates in our country,» said Campos Valverde.
During the tour, the delegation visited various parts of CECOT, including the inmate affiliation center, where terrorists undergo extensive screenings upon arrival. They were also shown the facility’s armory, officers’ dining room, game center, and gym. Of particular interest was Module 4, where the conditions in which gang members are held were explained, along with details about healthcare and daily exercise schedules for the inmates.
Campos Valverde praised the facility’s respect for human rights, stating that he observed a high standard of care for inmates, including medical services, nutrition, and exercise. «It’s a place that demonstrates absolute respect for fundamental rights,» he said. «The inmates have opportunities to exercise, medical teams are working with them, and we witnessed the orderly treatment they receive. This is something we should take as an example.»
The Costa Rican delegation’s visit underscores the growing interest in El Salvador’s security strategy as a model for addressing organized crime and improving prison systems in the region. Minister Campos Valverde expressed optimism about applying the best practices learned from El Salvador to Costa Rica’s own legal system, aiming to offer the people of Costa Rica the peace and security that Salvadorans are experiencing today.