Many thousands of prisoners have been transferred to El Salvador’s largest prison.
As part of a massive crackdown on crime in the country, the first group of approximately 2,000 people was moved to the maximum-security mega prison.
Images show prisoners in white shorts and shaved heads, with many others sporting gang tattoos.
To relieve some of the nation’s overcrowded prisons, the Terrorism Confinement Centre was built in Tecoluca in seven months.
It can house up to 40,000 prisoners.
President Nayib Bukeele posted on Twitter: “This will their new home, where you won’t have to do any more damage to the population.”
After a spike in crime and murders, the policy of his policy proved popular in the country.
Human rights groups are concerned that innocent people may be being held hostage by the police, and at least dozens have been killed in custody.
Arrests are possible without warrants, but detainees don’t have the right of a lawyer.
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El Salvador opens 40,000-inmate prison in ‘war against gangs’
Police search for gang members
El Salvador declared a emergency in March 2022 to combat gang violence. More than 64,000 suspects were arrested.
Bukele stated earlier this month that El Salvador had gone from being the most dangerous country in the world, to becoming the safest in the Americas because of the waves of action against soaring crime.
Despite concerns from human rights groups, the government says that the anti-gang drive will continue to the end.
