The World’s Highest Security Prison: CECOT (The Most Dangerous Are Kept Here)
In a chilling documentary, the world’s largest and most secure prison, CECOT, located in El Salvador, comes under intense scrutiny. Designed to house the most dangerous criminals, this mega-prison holds over 40,000 inmates, including notorious gang members and violent offenders responsible for countless lives lost. Behind its towering walls and extensive security measures lies a facility where escape is not just difficult—it’s virtually impossible.
The prison’s construction was a response to El Salvador’s gang violence epidemic, with notorious groups like MS13 and Barrio 18 wreaking havoc across the country. In 2022, President Nayib Bukele launched a dramatic crackdown on these criminal organizations, arresting over 70,000 individuals, including thousands of gang members. These arrests were followed by a tightly coordinated operation to transport these criminals to CECOT, where they would face lifelong sentences in isolation.
The documentary takes viewers behind the gates of CECOT, showcasing its high-tech security measures, including a 9-meter high wall with an electric fence carrying 15,000 volts, 19 watchtowers, and a signal jammer that blocks communications within a 2-kilometer radius. This level of security is necessary for containing the violent offenders inside, whose past actions have earned them their place in this notorious facility.
Once inside, inmates are subjected to strict conditions. They are confined to small cells with minimal personal space, no access to outdoor areas, and are often isolated from any contact with the outside world. Family visits are forbidden, and the only contact they have with the outside is through brief interactions with prison staff. The daily lives of these inmates are controlled by the relentless surveillance and security measures, with guards overseeing every step they take.
The documentary also highlights the emotional and psychological toll that life in CECOT takes on its inmates. While some remain cold and unrepentant, others, like Marvin Ernesto Metano Vasquez (known as Psycho), reveal the inner struggles and regrets they carry. Psycho, a high-ranking member of MS13, shares his harrowing journey from a young boy looking for a sense of belonging to becoming one of the most feared criminals in El Salvador. He expresses his regret for the choices he made and reflects on the family he lost to his criminal life.
CECOT’s reputation for housing the world’s most dangerous criminals, many of whom have taken multiple lives, is undeniable. The prison has become a symbol of El Salvador’s fight against organized crime, where violent gang members are forced to face the consequences of their actions. However, as the government continues to use extreme measures to control crime, questions arise about the impact on innocent individuals who may have been wrongfully imprisoned.
In the larger context, the crackdown has led to a dramatic decrease in crime in El Salvador, with the homicide rate dropping significantly. However, the methods used to achieve this drop remain controversial, raising concerns about whether the country has truly found a lasting solution to its gang problem or if it is simply a temporary fix. The documentary leaves viewers with these difficult questions, urging them to consider the cost of justice in a world where the line between right and wrong is often blurred.
As El Salvador grapples with its past and present, the world watches closely, observing the effectiveness of CECOT and the broader implications of the country’s approach to dealing with its criminal underworld. Will this approach prove successful in the long run, or will it create more problems than it solves? Only time will tell.
