Honduras plans to build a mega prison similar to El Salvador’s “Terrorism Confinement Center” (CECOT) to tackle serious crimes and gang problems. This facility, located on an island, will be the only island prison colony in the Western Hemisphere.
Honduras is one of the most violent countries in the world, mainly due to gang activity. Both MS-13 and 18 Street gangs are active, with estimates suggesting up to 40,000 gang members in the country. These gangs engage in extortion, street-level drug trafficking, robbery, and murder. In 2022, Honduras reported a homicide rate of 34 per 100,000 people, higher than the global average. Widespread corruption in law enforcement and the judiciary exacerbates the problem, making it difficult to prosecute criminals and maintain public safety. This environment of fear and violence has had severe social and economic impacts, leading to widespread displacement as many residents flee gang-related threats. This is one of the drivers of illegal immigration to the United States.
Latin America’s war against crime began with the President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele, who built the Center for Terrorism Confinement (CECOT), which was opened in 2023. This large facility, designed to hold up to 40,000 inmates and inevitably, is operated by guards. , not a convict. Under the strictest security and surveillance, including drones and cell phone jammers, and located in a remote area, the prison is heavily guarded. This is the cornerstone of President Bukele’s aggressive anti-gang policy.
People with gang tattoos are arrested en masse, about 2% of the population. The most violent criminals, including murderers and rapists, received sentences of up to 700 years. CECOT became the cornerstone of President Bukele’s aggressive anti-gang policy, which resulted in criminal activity and mass arrests of suspected gang members.
This approach has been controversial, drawing criticism for potential human rights violations but also praise for significantly reducing crime rates. As a result, the country’s homicide rate dropped from one of the worst in the world to one of the lowest. Showing their appreciation for the country’s newfound security, the people re-elected President Bukele in a landslide for a second term.
Following El Salvador’s example, other countries in the region, such as Honduras and Ecuador, have adopted similar tough measures to combat gang crime and violence.
El Salvador and Honduras have designated gang members as terrorists. Honduran President Xiomara Castro has pushed for tougher measures to fight crime since taking office. In less than a year, they realized that the existing legal framework was not enough to fight gangs effectively. Consequently, like the President of El Salvador Bukele, Castro declared a state of exclusion in some areas of the country, including the capital. This declaration temporarily suspends certain constitutional rights and freedoms, such as freedom of movement, assembly, and association, and allows for increased police and military presence and powers.
The state of exception aims to provide security forces with greater flexibility to fight gangs and criminal organizations, allowing more aggressive tactics to arrest and detain suspected gang members and other criminals without the usual legal restrictions. Following El Salvador’s example, Honduras is proposing to build a mega prison to ease overcrowding in its notorious prison system, known for poor conditions and frequent violence. By centralizing high-risk prisoners in high-security facilities, the Honduran government hopes to isolate gang leaders and disrupt their operations, reducing violence and criminal activity inside and outside prisons. Honduras may request international funding and support for this project, similar to El Salvador’s approach, which has received support from countries interested in regional stability.
The third country that fights crime is Ecuador. The country is on the verge of collapse due to the rise in crime caused by narcotics from Colombia and other countries using Ecuador as a shipping port to reach the US market by sea. Its strategic location between major drug-producing countries Colombia and Peru has made Ecuador an important transit point for cocaine smuggling, attracting powerful drug cartels and increasing gang activity in the country.
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa was elected because of his strong anti-criminal stance. Since taking office in November 2023, he has declared an “internal armed conflict” against drug gangs and imposed a non-exempt state, similar to measures taken by El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele. Noboa’s security plan includes expanding the authority of the military and police, building new high-security prisons, and deporting foreign prisoners to reduce prison overcrowding. A tough approach to crime has resonated with voters, who want to live a safe life.
Citizens of El Salvador, Honduras, and Ecuador have been pushed to the breaking point by rampant crime and elected governments willing to aggressively crack down on criminal activity. All three countries recognize that arresting criminals, locking them up, and using lethal force when necessary can be an effective strategy to deal with crime. A significant percentage of crimes committed by repeat offenders, so incarcerating violent criminals in the mega prison of El Salvador or Honduras’ designed prison island is expected to cause the crime rate to plummet.