Colombia weighs prison ships for top criminals

Colombia's new government wants to use prison ships at sea to hold people it considers highly dangerous criminals, a defense ministry source told AFP Wednesday.

President Abelardo de la Espriella took office earlier this month after campaigning on a tougher approach to armed groups. During a security council meeting, he asked for the prison ship proposal to become reality, the source said.

The Colombian Navy is responsible for taking the project forward, the source added, without giving further details.

Supporters of prison ships say they can stop detained people from escaping and limit contact with dangerous individuals and the outside world. Humanitarian watchdogs warn that the practice breaches human rights.

Former Colombian leader Alvaro Uribe sent drug leaders aboard prison ships in the Atlantic and Pacific in 2007 before their extradition to the United States.

De la Espriella has also said he wants closer ties with the United States and Israel to pursue his security goals. On August 12, Colombia authorised joint US bombardments on its own soil as part of a crackdown on drug trafficking.