When you hear the phrase 10 secret prisons, you might picture an underground bunker or a remote island shack. In reality, governments across the globe have built a network of concealed detention centers where torture, intimidation, and inhumane conditions are the norm. Below, we rank ten of the most notorious hidden facilities, unpacking their grim histories, notorious inmates, and the chilling details that have surfaced over the years.
10 Salt Pit Afghanistan
The Salt Pit was a covert CIA‑run black site tucked away in Afghanistan. Established after the 9/11 attacks, its purpose was to detain individuals suspected of terrorist ties. Torture was routine, with detainees enduring mock executions and other brutal punishments.
Originally a brick factory, the facility was converted into a grim maze of tiny, windowless cells lacking toilets—prisoners were forced to relieve themselves into buckets. Stripped naked, they slept on cold concrete, while operatives blasted loud music as a form of psychological torment.
Among the victims, Dr. Ghairat Baheer spent six months chained to a chair with an operative sitting on his stomach. Gul Rahman, the only verified death at the site, suffered repeated beatings, was drenched in water, and ultimately died of hypothermia on November 20, 2002. The CIA never returned his body or informed his family of his death.
9 Camp 7 Guantanamo Bay
While Guantanamo Bay itself is infamous, it houses an even more secretive enclave known as Camp 7. Concealed from public view, this hidden wing opened in 2006 and remained undisclosed for two years. Only a handful of insiders knew of its existence, and journalists were barred from entry.
Red Cross inspectors were permitted only under a strict non‑disclosure agreement. Camp 7 housed 15 “high‑value” detainees, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks.
Allegations of torture surfaced when inmate Ramzi Bin al‑Shibh complained of constant vibrations and strange noises in his cell. The U.S. military initially dismissed his claims, but in 2014 the Pentagon admitted the noises were real, attributing them to structural decay. Funding requests for repairs were denied by Congress.
8 Penny Lane Guantanamo Bay
Penny Lane, launched in 2003, was a stark contrast to typical detention centers. Detainees lived in comfortable cottages equipped with plush beds, kitchens, patios, showers, and televisions. Luxuries even extended to on‑demand pornography.
The site catered exclusively to confirmed terrorists being groomed as double agents. After intensive training, they were released back into their terrorist networks to feed intelligence to the CIA, often in exchange for multi‑million‑dollar payouts.
Despite its opulent façade, the program faltered. Some agents never reported back, while others were coerced under threats to their families. By 2006, the double‑agent initiative was terminated.
7 The Resort North Korea
Dubbed “The Resort,” this facility mirrors Penny Lane but serves a different elite: blacklisted relatives and officials of North Korea’s ruling class. Situated near Hyanghari, merely 50 km from the Chinese border, it resembles a small, well‑guarded town rather than a prison.
Housing roughly 1,000 inmates, many families cohabit, creating a quasi‑communal environment. Prisoners receive regular meals, no forced labor, and relatively comfortable living conditions, which discourages escape attempts.
Notable detainees include Kim Song Ae, former second wife of the late Kim Il‑Sung, and an aunt of Kim Jong Un, the widow of Jang Song Taek, who was incarcerated after her husband’s 2013 execution.
6 Cat’s Eye Thailand
Also known as Detention Site Green, Cat’s Eye was a clandestine CIA prison in Thailand, its exact location still shrouded in mystery—rumors place it near Bangkok or Udon Thani. Both the CIA and Thai authorities deny its existence.
Exposed by a 2014 U.S. Senate report that listed the location as “Country [REDACTED],” the site was hastily erected in 2002 to house Abu Zubaydah, a suspected al‑Qaeda operative.
Abu endured relentless waterboarding inside a coffin‑sized box, while the prison’s second detainee, Abd al‑Rahim al‑Nashiri, joined in November 2002. Both suffered sleep deprivation, beatings, forced nudity, and a punishment dubbed “walling,” where they were slammed against walls. The facility reportedly shut down in December 2002, with prisoners transferred to a Polish black site.
5 Temara Interrogation Center Morocco
The Temara Interrogation Center, located near Rabat, began as a CIA‑run secret interrogation hub post‑9/11 before morphing into a joint Moroccan‑CIA prison. While the CIA initially oversaw operations, Moroccan authorities soon used the site to detain political prisoners.
French‑Moroccan Zakaria Moumni recounted being told he was in a “slaughterhouse” that would leave him in pieces. Oussama Boutahar, a former Bosnian militia fighter, claimed Moroccan interrogators tortured him at the behest of the United States.
A U.S. Senate report revealed CIA awareness of Moroccan‑run torture, leading to a strained partnership. Although the CIA considered abandoning Temara, the plan was later abandoned. Morocco continues to deny any wrongdoing.
4 Camp Lemonnier Djibouti
Djibouti, a tiny Horn‑of‑Africa nation bordering Somalia and Yemen, hosts the U.S. military base Camp Lemonnier. From here, the United States launches drone strikes across the region.
Unconfirmed reports suggest the CIA operates a clandestine detention center on the base. Congressional insiders claim knowledge of the facility, noting that some detainees may be innocent.
Former prisoner Mohammed Abdullah Saleh Asad alleges torture before being transferred to an Afghan black site. Mahdi Hashi, another alleged detainee, says he was kidnapped in Mogadishu and imprisoned after refusing to spy for British intelligence.
3 Unnamed Gay Prisons Chechnya
Chechnya, a Muslim‑majority Russian republic, has become infamous for covert detention centers targeting gay men. Under the rule of Ramzan Kadyrov, these secret prisons subject detainees to repeated torture, often resulting in death.
Russia’s anti‑LGBT laws provide a legal backdrop, but Chechen authorities prefer abduction and clandestine incarceration. Journalists exposing these sites, such as those from Novaya Gazeta, have faced murders and intimidation, with at least six reporters killed.
2 Unnamed Prisons Ukraine
Between 2014 and 2016, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) operated a clandestine prison in Kharkiv, detaining individuals suspected of supporting Russian aggression during the annexation of Crimea.
The SBU denied the facility’s existence, labeling accusations as Russian propaganda. Independent investigations concluded without definitive findings. Mykola Vakaruk, held for roughly 600 days, recounts brutal beatings for every wrong answer, a freezing 2‑square‑meter cell that caused ice to form, and the loss of a kidney due to prolonged exposure.
After international pressure, Ukraine released many detainees, offering minimal compensation (100 hryvnias, about $3.80) and threats to silence them. Human Rights groups allege additional secret prisons existed in Kramatorsk, Izium, and Mariupol.
1 Black Jails China
China’s “black jails” are illegal detention centers run by provincial and local governments. Citizens are expected to lodge grievances with local authorities; those who fail to obtain justice may travel to Beijing to appeal to the central government.
To avoid being marked in Beijing’s “black books,” local officials employ a network of over 10,000 operatives who kidnap, detain, and torture complainants. Facilities are often repurposed homes, psychiatric wards, or guesthouses.
In 2009, estimates suggested 73 black jails existed within Beijing. Initially denied, the central government later acknowledged their existence.
These ten covert detention sites reveal a dark underbelly of state power, where secrecy shields abuse and victims are left voiceless. Understanding these hidden prisons is the first step toward accountability and reform.