Colombia mulls locking up dangerous criminals on prison ships
Colombia’s new hard-right government wants to use prison ships adrift at sea to lock up people it considers highly dangerous criminals, a defence ministry source said on Wednesday. President Abelardo de la Espriella took office earlier this month, vowing to come down hard on armed groups in Colombia, the world’s largest cocaine producer. The US-backed millionaire campaigned on a pledge to bomb…
Colombia’s new right-wing government is considering the use of prison ships anchored at sea to house individuals deemed highly dangerous criminals, according to a defence ministry source. President Abelardo de la Espriella assumed office recently, vowing to aggressively combat armed groups in the country, which is the world's top cocaine producer.
The US-backed billionaire promised to target guerrillas and construct large "mega prisons," reminiscent of El Salvador's leader Nayib Bukele. During a security council meeting, the president requested the prison ship initiative to be implemented, the source revealed, without disclosing further specifics. The Colombian Navy will oversee the project, the source added.
Proponents argue that prison ships would prevent inmates from escaping and reduce interaction between dangerous individuals and the outside world. However, humanitarian groups caution that such confinement violates human rights. In 2007, former Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe had previously sent drug leaders on prison ships across the Atlantic and Pacific before their extradition to the United States.
De la Espriella also aims to strengthen ties with the United States and Israel to advance his security objectives. On August 12, Colombia authorized joint US military strikes on its own territory as part of its campaign against drug trafficking.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
