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Video: Shocking transfer of 2,000 gangs to El Salvador's new maximum security prison

The Salvadoran government inaugurated the new Terrorism Confinement Center with the admission of members of Salvatrucha and Barrio 18. "This will be their new home, where they will live for decades mixed together, without being able to do any more harm to the population," said President Bukele.

2.000 maras fueron trasladador al CECOT, la nueva prisión de máxima seguridad en El Salvaddor. Es el centro penal más grande de América (imagen de archivo).

(Screenshot)

Published by
Alejandro Baños

The Government of El Salvador reported the transfer of 2,000 members of the Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 gangs to the new Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), the recently completed maximum security prison built some 46 miles from San Salvador. President Nayib Bukele shared a shocking video showing the criminals entering the prison complex. "This will be their new home, where they will live for decades mixed together, without being able to do any more harm to the population," said the president.

The recently inaugurated CECOT, with the capacity to incarcerate 38,000 more inmates, is now the largest prison in the Americas. It will have high security measures complemented with the latest technological means. The transfer of the first 2,000 prisoners to the penitentiary took place in the early hours of Friday morning, according to the Press Secretariat of the Presidency of El Salvador:

Last Friday, February 24, during the early hours of the morning, the government of President Nayib Bukele carried out the first transfer of 2,000 inmates, gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Center, where they will remain for decades.

Gustavo Villatoro, Minister of Justice and Public Security, assured that with the opening of the CECOT, crime continues to be defeated:

Thanks to the leadership of President Bukele we have taken another decisive step in this war against gangs. Cell by cell, we are eliminating this cancer from society. Know that you will never walk out of the CECOT again, you will pay for what you are.... cowardly terrorists.

According to official Salvadoran government data, murders committed by gangs such as Salvatrucha and Barrio 18, fell by 57% in 2022. In the last week, none were registered, as Bukele pointed out.

Amnesty International criticizes new Terrorism Confinement Center

Amnesty International (AI) alleged that the construction and transfer of prisoners to this new mega-prison will lead to further human rights violations:

Amnesty International expresses its deep concern over the inauguration of the "Terrorism Confinement Center" in El Salvador, the largest prison in the Americas, according to government officials. Amnesty International has denounced a clear pattern of human rights violations under the current public security approach in El Salvador.. The construction of this new prison could mean the continuation and escalation of these abuses.

In addition, Amnesty International called on Bukele to "change course" and criticized the Salvadoran government for "continuing to apply a public security policy of mass incarceration."

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