Costa Rica looks to El Salvador's gang crackdown for path to stopping violence
Source: Associated Press
Costa Rica looks to El Salvador’s gang crackdown for path to stopping violence
By MARCOS ALEMÁN
Updated 9:52 PM EDT, April 4, 2025
TECOLUCA, El Salvador (AP) — Costa Rica’s security minister toured El Salvador’s maximum-security gang prison on Friday as part of his review of the measures that El Salvador has taken to reduce violence caused by powerful street gangs during a now three-year offensive under a state of emergency.
Costa Rica Justice and Peace Minister Gerald Campos Valverde said he was visiting on orders of President Rodrigo Chaves to “see the good practices of the Salvadoran people with the goal of combating crime and to returning rights to all citizens.”
In November, Costa Rica bestowed its highest diplomatic honor on El Salvador President Nayib Bukele for his success in lowering levels of violence during his three-year campaign against powerful street gangs.
El Salvador has lived under a state of emergency that suspends fundamental rights like access to a lawyer. Some 84,000 people have been arrested, accused of gang ties.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-costa-rica-bukele-prison-e4e2ac8dba360557899d4aa3795d2f5d