The CECOT: Inside the Fortress Holding El Salvador's Most Violent Gangsters

President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador has declared war against the local Mara gangs, which have long plagued the small Central American nation. In response, the government has developed CECOT, one of the largest mega-prisons in the world. This facility holds 12,000 members of the most violent Salvadoran Maras in this highly controlled environment. Our crew delves into the lives of those incarcerated within CECOT, exploring and interviewing them to provide a unique perspective on this unprecedented crackdown.
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[@eliosmaster]

He says he hasn't seen his family in 10 years... but he took the lives of children that mothers would no longer be able to see.

[@Adrian_Estando]

Exactly.

[@sirjames7800]

Yessir. You are completely right!👍🏼💯

[@javirodriguez5617]

Well said,,,

[@israelperez9181]

Yes! 💯 Correct! Here in The U.S Hard Working Families Try to Make Ends meet Every Month. BUT This Individuals get Everything Free Hot meals ,Fresh new Clothes , Medical Care......Even Internet 😂🎉😂🎉😁 WOW! Isn't that Awesome 👍

[@JorgeTorres-ke7pm]

​@@sirjames78001:29 0

[@abdielgaldamez7393]

They weren't thinking about there families when they were killing people

[@tittiesinmyface-cv1iv]

They are killing their rivals dumb dumb

[@mariosrecycling8649]

True

[@wileecoyote5749]

*their

[@ActionableFreedom]

So you think that the soldiers of Israel and Hamas, of Russia and America, that when they kill people they dont think of their families? This is dehumanization and maybe one day a government will find you faulty and put you behind bars and you will know how wrong you were.

[@o.m.y.]

exactly

[@joshuatoledo8844]

Respect to President Bukele.

[@Andy-im3kj]

Easily one of the best presidents in the world along with Trump.

[@waryaawariiri1812]

Yet he betrays Palestinian people and their resistance, who are also closer to his ancestors. Shame on Najib (real spelling of his name).

[@hsplayerguy00]

@@waryaawariiri1812He doesn’t betray anyone. His allegiance is to the SALVADORAN people and El Salvador 🇸🇻, not Palestine. Plus his grandparents were Palestinians CHRISTIANS.

[@mindofmxz]

@@waryaawariiri1812he’s the president of the former murder capital, he got his own priorities then other problems. you wouldn’t like to get you country get killed too before helping others get rid of theirs

[@waryaawariiri1812]

@@hsplayerguy00 Nothing to do with allegiance. Leaders of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Venezuela and others in the region all support the resistance against occupation. Not this opportunistic dude, who even betrays his ancestors.

[@mr.cookiemacias291]

This is how you treat the worst of the worst.

[@chaimgevaldik1918]

Coz these criminals only know one language, violence… liberal laws wont work

[@shafiqirfaqi4179]

They’re blessed they don’t have the death sentence in El Salvador.

[@Wavy_Gravy]

​@@shafiqirfaqi4179 Sitting in a box forever is worse. They'll be in hell long before it gets hot.

[@Andy-im3kj]

God bless Bukele for providing true common sense solutions.

[@shafiqirfaqi4179]

@@Wavy_Gravytrue that

[@aaseelanp3851]

Forcing the devil worshipers to sing christian hymns. That is the most funniest thing here 😂

[@ThriftyCHNR]

Religion is a cheap way of suppressing violent behavior and creating docile behavior

[@mammon_is_god]

They all have Christian tattoos. All have the praying hands, Jesus, Mary... Your father abandoned you all.

[@ThriftyCHNR]

@@mammon_is_god Yep! Christians are some of the most convenient minded people. They believe in an all you can sin buffett and then they wash it off with prayer and church. No matter what they do they believe they will have it all!

[@Jesusislord-hd7fe]

No its religion watch the last reformation he teaches how ro get a relationship​@@mammon_is_god

[@lorriegallardo8053]

It's not funny. It's smart.

[@salvatoredinunzio4137]

Congratulations to Salvador president for creating a safe country from the criminals elements.

[@culer]

Terrorists*

[@culer]

Terrorists*

[@ESPARTAN-ci7de]

THE GUY BEHIND LAUGHED SOO HARD WHEN THE DUDE WAS SAYING HE IS INNOCENT!!😂😂😂😅

[@giovporto6475]

Oh yeah,good catch dude.

[@G.TZ77]

So you think that he laughed because he knows that the other guy is not innocent?? Or maybe he laughed because he doesn't care and he feels better because he knows that even innocent ones are there with him??? We just don't know..

[@damienholland8103]

@@G.TZ77 exactly. we don't know the real reason for the laugh.

[@johnowens5342]

Totally gave up the lie

[@mikehoncho5764]

Or cuz he knows hes gonna get fucked up for speaking out lol

[@pedropierre9594]

Funny how English media wants to paint an image yet most people in the comments dont see anything wrong

[@williamcondon7729]

Because the average person also doesn’t see anything wrong with taking a hand for stealing fruit. People can be convinced that anything is just if it satisfies a blood lust that leads to an eye for an eye.

[@kommisar.]

@@williamcondon7729 There's no blood lust here. These gang members were causing trouble even inside the prison. It's a well known fact that gang leaders all over the world run their gangs from inside a cell. That's why this places was built. El Salvador has LESS blood lust thanks to this prison.

[@StayHardened]

Amen to that brother… I’m from El Salvador, and it’s incredible how he has made the country super safe… I don’t think people realize the insanity of living in El Salvador back in the day… Picture having your next neighbors be psychopathic predators ready to cancel your life if you don’t pay them a made up tax for setting up a lemonade stand

[@kommisar.]

@@StayHardened Where there any human rights activists trying to help you then?

[@williamcondon7729]

@@kommisar. justify it however you want but keeping people in prison without due process or a trial is still a violation of human rights. My point is that the average person watching this doesn’t understand that many of these people are in prison just based on an accusation or because they were profiled so their enthusiasm is just a desire to see the state punish someone not necessarily the right people.

[@djdreamz24]

We need a president like BUKELE in Guatemala.

[@All_you_need_is_love2018]

The entire Latin America needs a Bukele in all areas of government, military and police.

[@Andy-im3kj]

We need leaders like him EVERYWHERE desperately.

[@siri7075]

Wir brauchen ihn mittlerweile auch in Deutschland

[@alainportant6412]

il nous en faut un en France pour nos racailles

[@chaski777]

💯🙏🙏🙏

[@Adrian_Estando]

You insist on acting like a wild beast you will be dealt with like one. Simple universal, cosmic law.

[@Jchf310]

Como salvadoreños decentes no debemos dejar salir a esta gente violenta a las calles jamás.

[@faraz4692]

Don't talk about your people like that

[@yasminbarry7941]

​@@faraz4692: Perhaps you didn't understand what he is saying.

[@faraz4692]

@@yasminbarry7941 I did I was joking with him

[@yasminbarry7941]

@@faraz4692 😅

[@j.clements2093]

Que el Señor siga bendiciendo a ustedes los Salvadoreños. Pronto serán el país más desarrollado del mundo. No olviden a nuestro Señor Jesus Cristo. Nosotros los Americanos nos olvidamos y nos estamos auto destruyendo.

[@woolfeythehunter4125]

This is what a Prison should look like

[@DeezN1892]

No, only in extreme circumstances like El Salvador. Adopt this in the US and Every prisoner will come out battle hardened and insane

[@woolfeythehunter4125]

@@DeezN1892 hmmmm. But if they do Crime they will go back and then NEVER come Oute

[@DeezN1892]

@@woolfeythehunter4125 then you’d have a population of largely prisoners

[@taryntaryn9090]

@@DeezN1892 They already come out like that!! They should also NEVER be released!!

[@woolfeythehunter4125]

@@DeezN1892 but it already is!

[@maritessblanco6807]

This is brilliant! The two very dangerous rival gangs are now living together! Imagine that! Bukele is a genius ❣️

[@503redbull]

Lol They sure didn't think the loved ones when they murdered innocent people

[@DrewElGringasho]

Bingo. Bukele is a hero. Also I love how they are making those witchcraft practicing devil worshippers sing hymns of Jesus 😂 Su nombre sobre todo otro nombre 🙌🏻

[@stephannie86]

Finally justice for the people from El Salvador .. after years of terror from Gangs..

[@williamcondon7729]

Justice is subjective, it shouldn’t be determined by victims

[@NoahNoah-fg3yi]

Theyre not in gangs before they could've been good before but then had to join a prison gang to survive im not saying all of them but some of them

[@truehappiness4U]

@@NoahNoah-fg3yipeople constantly change in life, once they are good and then bad and then again good etc. Just try to stay on the morally good path and nothing will happen to you. Pay your taxes, respect your neighbours enemies as Jesus once said. There would be more peace and love and happiness then

[@LeoSickone-od7xs]

We need this in the US

[@jbran332]

😂 they are using US blueprint smh

[@user-fz1bk5lx4v]

We need to shut the prisons down in the US

[@Michael-pf8we]

We have more people in prison than any country in the world. Both per capita and total incarcerated.

[@Andy-im3kj]

@@jbran332 No they're not prisoners here have it like they're living in traphouse apartments. They have it way too nice in America. This is why we have people who reoffend that are ex-cons.

[@charlyorellana1366]

Most to the inmate in MCJ los angeles California are in jail for felonies that turn in misdemeanor according preposition 57 , every inmate cost to the State 56,000 , and they spend time in jail with not rehabilitacion at all, not reading , not learning any Skill, the chances of recividism are very clear , after 3 years, they come back to serving time again , so the system turn in a Vicious Circle.

[@popnaty8685]

“We’re the only accredited european film crew” …since then they also let youtubers film inside

[@omko73]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@albarosero4287]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@miguelito29229]

1 toilet for 80 people 😂 imagine waking up and holding your shit in line for your turn 💩

[@henry7765]

That and the lights don’t turn off. Or no blanket

[@MorenoDMV503]

2 toilets for 80 people

[@henry7765]

@@MorenoDMV503 they said one toilet 🚽

[@BroccoliHead7]

What an amazing feature

[@MorenoDMV503]

@@henry7765 pay attention there is one in the punishment cell and there are two where the 80 ppl are

[@mr.shadow8812]

“Some of us havent seen our loved ones in years!” And you made it so others will never be able to see their loved ones either ever again…

[@MrJustonemorevoice]

Demons always beg for mercy because they know democrats and lefties are dumb enough to fall for it.

[@infobaseworks2401]

I can't wait to finally bring my family to visit El Salvador

[@mialmatealabajesus7871]

They looked like we didn't do anything really I'm a Mexican living in the US married to a Salvadorian the first time I visited El Salvador was in 2017 and it was horrible you couldn't go anywhere and after dark you couldn't be outside because that was the time when they used to do their crimes it was scarry it was like living in a prison so I testify that Bukele has done an excellent job I went back again in 2022 and you can walk safely at night time and you can go anywhere you want without being scared that you'll get robbed or killed.

[@shahjehan]

“ I’m innocent!” Yeah right 😂

[@littledudefromacrossthestr5755]

Lol

[@mcmd2009]

I like the way they think! Prison should be hard.

[@PunkDave-et8bm]

I agree. I believe that we (🇨🇦) have allowed jails and prisons to become comfortable enough that people become repeat offenders because not only does our sentencing seem very light or short but you also get more time for drug offenses than for violent crimes plus the have really become a cash grab for rich politicians. We need to either rehabilitate offenders and give them skills and teach them a better, healthier way of living so they don't return or start giving out longer sentences to match the crimes committed or the prisons become a complete failure in what they are supposed to be built for, punishment not comfort.. Just my opinion. ✌️

[@OldGuy70s]

@@PunkDave-et8bm Oh give me a break, they have no phking blankets or a mattress! People dont treat animals like that unless there evil...........

[@Adrian_Estando]

@@OldGuy70s- I hope you never find out how wrong you are.

[@skyisdlimit6125]

@@OldGuy70s you should bring them home and let them sleep with your wife and kids.

[@EdwinYRequena]

@@PunkDave-et8bm Thats no joke man, when I was 19 I had my first stay in jail and I was scared, but once I went through the loop and got housed I learned that it was a piece of cake, as long as you are or act like a POS you are fine, feels like going to camp, we played cards, watched TV (real TV, like sports and movies) had news paper, and every day after work the recreational yard would be open for us to play volley ball, horse shoes, etc. Then with commissary you can get snacks and things to drink like coolade, coffee, etc, needless to say I went back 3 more times until I grew up in my late 20s. I learned my lesson on my own because I kept losing good jobs and having to start over. I hope they never remove the knee from these guys necks or else they will 100% get revenge in the worst way possible.

[@valkry007]

We need those prisons here in Canada ! And we need a government and a court system that will punish the guilty and keep the animals in cages.

[@Billfye123]

Problem in the west is the government is filled with criminals, different echelon of problem compared to here

[@ElGreecy]

No jodas Eso es el Salvador el Pais Mas Peligroso del Mundo durante 30 años Jaja Canada Es seguro Estafadores y ladrones ahi en todos lados

[@edgarta7143]

Canada is belong to biggest mafias from China 😂 Canada is in their hands and too late for whites peoples , soon you will b minorities and have to respect the mafias from China which are now inside government agencies from Canada .

[@juanrojasnunez3903]

En delincuencia y inseguridad cómo es Canadá?

[@familiawesmez]

@@juanrojasnunez3903 oufff aqui esta de peor en peor. Corrupcion por todos lados

[@user-bp6qo8gw6w]

Congratulations. Bring this model to South Africa please.

[@jerrytruong1529]

Congratulations to the people of El Salvador for letting President Bukele do his work and make the country one of the safest in the world.

Im impressed by the discipline of the inmates . Outside they a straight killers. But they sit still keep quiet don’t hardly move . That’s takes incredible strength . Go to American prisons and it’s nonstop noise banging doors screaming moving around etc etc . If they have that discipline in theirs I imagine in the streets they are incredibly dangerous

[@Adrian_Estando]

Tell me you’re being funny. You think they have self-discipline? No, they do not. What they have is better for them in particular. Fear. Fear of stepping out of line because they know swift justice will be served. US prisons are run by private NGOs. Their interest is profits not rehab or public safety.

[@VictornHart]

Dude if they act up they get sent into a dark dungeon and it mentally messes them up.

[@pablomercado2844]

They loud in US prisons because they are pampered and got too much freedom in those prisons. In here they dont even get a mattress, their power has been taken away from them, they have NOTHING to make noise about. They even locked up with ENEMY GANGS in the same cell! imagine in the US locking that many Bloods and Cribs in one cell.. But in This prison, they know if they try to pull anything on any other prisoner they will be punished severely. and THAT is what keeps them quiet. They feel Powerless. Nothing to do with Discipline.

[@jerrytruong1529]

Love it how those guys remain so orderly do not dare to act out it in there. Consequences must be dire

[@kommisar.]

@@Adrian_Estando Only 8% of American inmates are housed in private prisons. You have no clue what you are talking about.

[@kiingsama9441]

As a former CO most prisons in the country should be run like this.

[@sallyreynolds8340]

Spare me the pity this is a 5 star prison so well equipped comparing it to far east Middle East locations…

[@SamSam-sn2jw]

Compared to our prisons in the US... Our prisons is the gangs den... rape, torture, killing all under one roof...

[@ceciliaartiga5542]

Thank God and President Bukele ❤🎉🎉 for everything 🙏 now anybody can can to visit El Salvador.

[@aya99312]

We NEED a Bukele in every country

[@xoat4life1xo]

The tattoo work is actually so crazy

[@kommisar.]

America desperately needs to copy this prison system.

[@azrilia1]

Wowwwww this is the most sophisticated jail ever

[@nathanjohnston1176]

It's not the most high security prison out there.

[@enriquerivas7078]

This is the way. Viva El salvador 🇸🇻 viva el presidente.

[@roberttavea1306]

Good job presidente.

[@angeldust1732]

Great job!

[@gohstkilla5160]

Bring this 2 uk

[@othienoburton5432]

Uk prisons are a joke

[@bevz29]

We need this in Australia. Our Government and Court System is a laughing stock compared to other Countries. They do the crime and still manage to get out of jail or are constantly bailed out to reoffend. There is just no point to the 'Court Systems' we have down here.

[@alicea1445]

Greece is exactly the same! And Life sentences are up to maximum 25 years.....!!! Then they're free to roam the streets again!

[@mabelnapoles9718]

No van a cambiar NUNCA esos maliantes No cambian ni volviendo a nacer

[@joselinvelasquez358]

My siblings and I immigrated to the US when we were kids bc of fear of running with this gangs members. I’m so happy to see a change in the country I was born.

[@davidmuttillo2806]

Is there a part two to this? It ends as if there is.

[@mariosrecycling8649]

Good. Happy to know El Salvador is changing ❤❤❤😊😊😊

[@GratefulDawg760]

I wish Bukele was running the United States.

[@MiguelGuevara-pk3sp]

😂😂😂😂

[@sotiris6656]

the way this vid ended it felt like there's more to watch

[@kedronking]

“It’s important the prisoners have something to believe in”. I’m sure peoples family members believed they would share a beautiful life with each other before these guys murdered them too

[@oncho1960]

The devil has been put in a bottle!

[@nursetammy6470]

Turn the water off, drain the pipes, employees go home. Wait 3 weeks, then wash, rinse, and repeat.

[@tyronventura0824]

Learn you guys should learn ! Espain, France . 🇫🇷 should learn lol😂

[@jre2775]

President Bukele is the man. Love from America 🇺🇸

[@Mundito_Loco]

why upload a video that is incomplete?

[@ancientruth5298]

What a beautiful mansion this are lucky guys 😍😍

[@juliog6612]

Quien los mandó a dedicarse a ala delincuencia nuestros actos tienen recompensa muchas victinas nunca verán asus familias

[@bradleygonzalez1160]

Former convicted felon here. Facing 4 felonies. 2 strikes. 9-15 years. Found a Rescued not Arrested Bible in county. Changed my life. Now I’m a proud father and husband who serves my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

[@honahwikeepa2115]

Brilliant. Lot's of time to reconsider..

[@ironman-vb7zs]

We need a president like Bukele in USA

[@RuggedRockProduction]

El Salvador puts you in prison as punishment , not to rehabilitate , not to coddle , but to punish you ! We could use President Bukele in the US !

[@Leptyzz]

This is so cool

[@sonicflash5090]

Video was great, but how you left us at the end 😕

[@danielventura3617]

F***'em, these are the people that has made it almost impossible for people like myself to go see the beautiful country my heritage is from. Cant wait to go visit sometime soon

[@thembelaninicky8807]

All prisons should be like this.

[@StanleyDatskiy]

Seams like a lovely establishment! 👌

[@ich500]

We need the same type of prison in Europe 🙏🏻

[@roberthanan5541]

The U.S. needs to learn from this. Stop street cops from investigating and them make respond to criminals in real crime solutions.

[@lorrandramat3427]

South Africa can learn how to stop their gang violence etc

[@netrider000]

❤ EVERY COUNTRY NEEDS A BUKELE ❤

[@nonistar5655]

This is 5 star compared to the Madagascar prison documentary.

[@Amir_Nassir]

wow that place is REALLY bad

[@gunemdown_smokey5297]

These inmates don’t even deserve food in my opinion.

[@gabrielss310]

Congrats President Bukele!

[@prometheusboat]

That solitary confinement cell looks awesome. I'd love to live in it.

[@jojon8308]

🤣

[@iceman5036]

Great idea mixing those Dogs together😂😂😂

[@plantlvr]

Good for this President, making El Salvador great again !

[@robertoacevedo3805]

Bukele has done a phenomenal job of cleaning up the country. It's beautiful! That said I pray he does not become another power hungry dictator.

[@wolfwillet431]

Australia should have this. Our courts are soft on crime

[@keenanmatthewfrans9680]

President Bukele is a fuckin legend im telling you

[@hughiedavies6069]

Shocking

[@SeniorAdrian]

2:12 why is DiCaprio a cameraman filming this?

[@kellyshomemadekitchen]

0:21 is that guy really napping on those vegetables? 😂

[@user-cf2bh3ys9b]

We need a President Like this in the U.S

[@gunemdown_smokey5297]

lol damn, the one break out of their cells is used to sing hymns lol

[@JuanSilva-ph6xw]

This wouldn't work on America i promise you.

[@aragornii507]

The so called gangsters look all very happy and proud to be there. The USA should do the same.

[@enri74cv]

That's what we need in America better prisons. Too many inside fights rape, drugs too much freedom. The bad guys aren't scared to go to prison.

[@chrissteffanoni8698]

Any idea which network the Australian film crew were?

[@wes8888]

RESPECT

[@Thetrue70]

Assault rifles !😂 it got me every time😂

[@rafkong]

The first security guard welcomes everyone by saying “welcome, go ahead”. You don’t get that kind of politeness anywhere in America

[@ilovetattoos9682]

We should have these prisons throughout the world

[@vishumalik4174]

Even virtually these guys are so scary

[@soup-nazi6824]

We need to copy this prison....

[@justsomethingtothinkabout8515]

To save you all sometime, to the narrators first two questions; Yes and Yes.

[@ohkaythen93]

I don't believe a single word they say. These inmates are animals and are treat as so.

[@Jtm2222]

The United States needs to take notes from this video

[@Karloscespedes]

The Cicot looks like a 5-star hotel compared with Cabanas and Combinado del Este in Cuba.

[@konkyolife]

My hunch is Eric Prince and his crew advised them as consultants.

[@user-lk7zd6cw1l]

They r blessed they r still alive...

[@beavermacadventures]

Some of these dudes had no choice but to join ms13...lets be real.

[@wvaquerano]

These guys can not be rehabilitated. They should start their own batallion and put themselves to the orders of BUKELE for special missions... like regaining the lost territory to Honduras

[@zarnero]

This prison is too kind for theyr sins.

[@BlackyBrownDestruction9337]

Down with America and Mexico, Hail El Salvador!