TECOLUCA, El Salvador — Costa Rica’s security minister paid a visit to El Salvador’s maximum-security prison for gang members on Friday. This visit was part of an effort to observe the measures El Salvador has implemented to curb violence linked to powerful street gangs during a three-year offensive under a state of emergency.
Gerald Campos Valverde, Costa Rica’s Justice and Peace Minister, stated that he was visiting under the direction of President Rodrigo Chaves. The purpose was to learn from El Salvador’s practices in order to combat crime and restore rights to citizens.
In a show of appreciation, Costa Rica previously awarded El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele its top diplomatic honor in November. This was in recognition of his success in diminishing violence levels within his country amid his ongoing battle against formidable street gangs.
For the past three years, El Salvador has operated under a state of emergency which restricts basic rights like legal representation. This state of affairs has seen 84,000 detained for alleged gang affiliations. Despite concerns over human rights, the resulting drop in homicides has significantly bolstered Bukele’s popularity.
Chaves conveyed acknowledgment of Bukele’s efforts last year, emphasizing that curbing organized crime in any region of Central America was beneficial. “The fight against organized crime in any part of Central America is welcome. The reach and influence and bad example of the gangs must be reduced,” Chaves remarked.
Campos was specifically taken with the gang prison that Bukele constructed at the onset of the emergency measures. He regarded the respect for fundamental rights at the institution positively.
During his visit, prison director Belarmino García guided Campos through a cell housing about 70 inmates. The director instructed the inmates to reveal their tattoos, demonstrating the integration of members from rival gangs sharing the same space.
Post-tour, Campos announced that Costa Rica would not continue to allow the release of criminals promptly after arrest by authorities. He expressed intentions to incorporate El Salvador’s strategies, stating, “We are going to take all of the good practices back to Costa Rica to give Costa Ricans a place of peace and tranquility.”
Earlier, El Salvador Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro welcomed the opportunity to share their experiences with Costa Rica. He highlighted that, while not a direct template to follow, these measures offer valuable lessons to both Costa Rica and El Salvador.
The notorious gang prison in El Salvador has drawn more scrutiny, especially after the U.S. deported nearly 300 migrants there, accusing them of gang affiliations.
While Costa Rica struggles with rising violence, the country witnessed a record high of 907 homicides in 2023, marginally decreasing to 880 in 2024; yet, the trend persists at a concerning pace, as indicated by recent data.
Unlike President Bukele, President Chaves does not have a majority in Congress and hasn’t restructured Costa Rica’s judiciary to eliminate opposing views.
Despite its past acclaim for ecotourism and environmental policy, Costa Rica has recently been plagued by violence largely linked to drug trafficking. The nation has turned into a critical transit point for cocaine shipments heading to Europe and the United States.