Honduras is embarking on a significant plan to construct a prison on a remote Caribbean island, aimed at housing some of its most feared cartel leaders.

President Xiomara Castro is spearheading the initiative, envisioning a modern-day ‘new Devil’s Island,’ set to become the sole penal colony in the Western Hemisphere.

The project’s primary objective is to isolate and detain notorious gang leaders, including approximately 2,000 members associated with the infamous MS-13 cartel.

The chosen location for this remote penitentiary is the Swan Islands (Islas del Cisne) archipelago, situated approximately 155 miles off Honduras’ coast, the Daily Mail reports.

The decision to build this isolated prison follows a tragic incident in an existing facility, where 46 women lost their lives during a gang-related massacre.

In response to the harrowing event, President Castro has pledged to implement drastic measures and crack down on the long-standing reign of terror by MS-13 gangs that has plagued the Central American nation.

Initially, the president had promised comprehensive reforms to the criminal justice system as a means to address gang violence.

However, the focus has now shifted to this new strategy of establishing the remote prison.

Island prisons have a historical presence in Latin America, with similar facilities previously existing in countries such as Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, and Peru.

These prisons were infamous for their deadly riots, harsh living conditions, and daring escape attempts, which had captured the attention of filmmakers and authors.

Nevertheless, the last island prison in Mexico ceased operations in 2019, marking the end of an era.

Written by staff