We walked into the gangs They locked them all up. Two gangs that had been terrorizing everyone, now, they are all in one place. This is what the President of El Salvador did, he changed the entire country.
From being the world’s crime capital for decades to becoming one of the safest countries in the world today, all because of… this President. This is Nayib Bukele. He's of Arab descent.
His ancestors migrated to El Salvador in the early 19th century, and he's of Palestinian origin. His father was known as the "Imam of El Salvador. " Since taking office in 2019, he has transformed the country.
This is CECOT Prison in El Salvador. It's one of the most secure prisons in the world. Here, in El Salvador.
This is El Salvador. Today, we will uncover the story of El Salvador and step inside CECOT Prison. We drove for an hour from the city to reach CECOT, one of the most heavily guarded prisons in the world.
In March 2022… …a state of emergency was declared, leading to the arrest of 64,000 criminal. A new prison was then built specifically for gang members and was inaugurated in 2023. It's called CECOT.
Here is the prison. We are at the gates of CECOT Prison. Look at the level of security!
It is known as the prison for gangsters and terrorists. They invited media outlets to broadcast the scene to the entire world serving as a deterrent to anyone who dares to break the law. Let's go in.
The security measures are so tight that entering this prison feels like going through an airport. There is strict screening before we can even enter. Look at this advanced equipment.
This prison is not about rehabilitation, it's strictly for gang members. There are two more gates. This is the second checkpoint.
This is a special inspection room. They check clothing and even socks. Everything must be lightweight.
We are entering another room now. How many rooms do we have to go through before reaching the prisoners? CECOT consists of eight massive cell blocks, each capable of holding thousands of inmates.
This is not just a prison, it’s a security fortress. This high-tech device is used to verify both prisoners and prison staff. Look at all these advanced devices.
There are cameras and fingerprint scanners. Criminals arrive here without identification, so all these devices are used for verification. The cameras are very advanced and feature facial recognition.
There are also motion sensors. We are approaching the prison cells. CECOT was built following the declaration of a state of emergency.
With mass arrests taking place, a vast facility was needed to house the criminals. This is the largest prison in Latin America, spanning the size of eight football fields, with a capacity of 40,000 inmates. Inside are some of the most dangerous criminals in the world two of the largest gangs in Latin America.
These gangs are Barrio 18 and MS-13… We'll see them now. …and they are now behind bars. Very few people are granted permission.
I might be the first Arab to receive permission to film inside. The prison is surrounded by massive 15-meter-high concrete walls reinforced with barbed wire and 19 watchtowers. They say escaping from here is impossible.
The security is extreme. The prison is guarded by 600 soldiers and 250 police officers. These are the guards.
I'll film a series of videos about prisons, but first, let’s get this video to 200,000 likes! There is an armory here. If anyone even thinks of escaping, just look at what awaits them.
El Salvador declared war on gangs. Look. Look at all these weapons.
They declared a war on terrorism to make the country safer. They will go to great lengths for this. Leg cuffs.
Look at the types of cuffs they have here. These bind both hands and feet together. When cuffed with these, you see them walking uncomfortably.
The equipment they are wearing is designed for emergencies. This is the result of the state of emergency. All these equipment serves one purpose, protecting citizens.
Public safety is the priority. As for the prison guards, they have certain privileges here. This is for the guards, not for the inmates.
The prisoners cannot leave their cells. This is what makes a country safe. This is for shaving.
You might think it’s for the inmates, but it’s actually for the guards. They must be well taken care of since they are surrounded by some of the most dangerous criminals in the world. These are the guards’ dormitories.
They work here for five days, followed by five days off. This gym is for the guards, It’s all for the guards' well-being. Now, we're about to enter the prisoners' area.
This is the most important part of the video. The world’s most dangerous gang leaders are just a few steps away. Once they pass through this gate, they never come out.
We're now going to the cells. We've arrived at the gangs. None of their family members are allowed to visit them.
Both gangs have been imprisoned together. Each participated in the murder of over 200 people, in rape, and in many other crimes. They said if you look at them, they will give you a terrifying glare.
Let’s see. There is a huge number of guards here. It feels like the country is at war.
All prisoners wear the same white uniform, every single one of them. The lights are never turned off, they stay on 24/7 so prisoners never know the time, and guards can monitor them. They have no chance to misbehave.
Each cell has a capacity of 100 inmates, but there are only 80 beds per cell. They have no blankets or anything to protect themselves from the cold. A few of them are now being let out to do some exercise.
Prisoners are only allowed out of their cells for 30 minutes a day to exercise using only their body weight. All cells are at full capacity. It feels like a scene from a movie.
CECOT. This is the only activity they are allowed. They are not allowed to do anything else.
Their tattoos reveal which gang they belong to. Anyone with gang tattoos is immediately arrested. The police have a special tattoo catalog, each marking signifies a gang affiliation.
Some gang members tried to alter their tattoos, but they failed. There are nurses here. A doctor visits daily to check on them.
Medical staff must always be present because inmates are not allowed to leave. There is a room where they can communicate with their lawyers via video call. Trials are conducted here because they are not allowed to go out.
Here, they speak to their lawyers via video. Look at all these rooms inside this incredible prison. We're now walking among members of the two most dangerous gangs in the world.
They are to our right and left. He's going to show us these three criminals… …and tell us about their crimes. They were such a danger to society.
Their tattoos will tell us which gang they belong to. This one killed five people. He killed them just because they crossed into his territory.
They all have tattoos. He's an MS-13 member. He kidnapped four people.
The one beside him murdered five. This is just a small sample of the criminals imprisoned here. The third inmate is also a gang member.
He killed a young girl who had a promising future as an athlete. He stole her future. Their tattoos made it much easier to identify and capture them.
Look, he has an "18" tattooed on him. That means he's a Barrio 18 member. They also have tattoos of graves and skulls of people they've killed.
This one has tattoos in memory of fallen gang members. He tattooed them as skulls. Every tattoo has a meaning.
They arrested them all and locked them in the same prison. These two gangs were at war, but now, they are imprisoned together. Thankfully, I live far away.
If any of them ever got hold of me in the future, I’d be in serious trouble. These gangs were once bitter enemies, but now they share the same cell. Their entire lives are confined within this cell.
They can never leave. This is their toilet. Do you see it?
It’s in the corner. They’ve been here for two years. As soon as the prison opened, all criminals were transferred here.
The guards cover their faces out of fear that one of the inmates might manage to contact someone outside to take revenge on their families. Now, we are heading to the solitary confinement cells, where any prisoner who misbehaves ends up. This is what keeps them in line.
There is no light. This is the solitary confinement cell. This is the solitary confinement cell.
If any prisoner misbehaves, they are placed here for 15 days. They don’t even leave their cells for meals, food is delivered inside. Beans and rice.
No chicken, no meat. Later, I interviewed one of the gang members. He is an MS-13 member.
He has killed 30 people. Look. He says he cries every day and regrets what he has done, but it’s too late.
He feels remorse, but he must face justice. He joined the gang when he was just 11 years old! And now, he is here in CECOT.
What the president did was bold and brilliant. When he was first elected in 2019, his approval rating was around 50%. But in the 2024 elections, he won by a landslide with 85% of the vote.
Why? Because for the first time, the people felt safe. This is the end of our tour of CECOT Prison.
What did you learn from this episode? There is a lot we can learn from this president. Translated by: Abdalrahman Khalil Mostafa.
