Central America

More than 215 gang members deported from Guatemala and Mexico in war on gangs

Photo: DES

November 20 |

More than 215 gang members from different terrorist structures have been deported from Guatemala and Mexico to El Salvador as part of the frontal combat against gangs between the end of March 2022 and November 7 of this year, according to data from the General Sub-Directorate of Criminal Investigation (SGIC) of the National Civil Police (PNC) of Guatemala and the National Institute of Migration of Mexico (INM).

On several occasions, the Minister of Justice and Public Security, Gustavo Villatoro, has emphasized that the arrests of the gang members trying to flee from justice are thanks to the good investigative and intelligence work of the Salvadoran police in coordination with Guatemalan and Mexican authorities.

The Security Minister reiterated that the war against gangs, conceived by President Nayib Bukele, will end until the last terrorist is captured and that none of them will escape justice, even if they flee to other countries.

On November 9, the SGIC of the Guatemalan police reported that from January 1 to November 7, 2023, 76 gang members were arrested and handed over to the authorities in El Salvador.

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The total number of those apprehended were sent to the Guatemalan Migration Institute (IGM) to be handed over to the Salvadoran Police. Guatemalan authorities indicated that among those captured were 38 members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS) and 38 of the Barrio 18 gang, from whom 13 pistols, a shotgun, 12 magazines, a motorcycle, two rifles, 192 rounds of ammunition of different calibers, 51 cell phones and a vehicle were seized.

The official report states that the terrorists were wanted by the Salvadoran PNC for committing crimes in the country.

In 2022, 94 Salvadorans were apprehended, of whom 75 were handed over to the security forces and 19 are serving sentences in Guatemala. Of the total number of those captured, 46 were from gang 18, 36 were from the MS and 12 were from other criminal groups. During the operations, 19 firearms, 226 rounds of ammunition of different calibers, 32 cell phones, 14 pistols, nine hoppers and two motorcycles were seized.

The deportees belonged to Las Cachorras, Teclas Locos Salvatruchas and Programas San Marcos MS-13.

The head of the Transnational Anti-Gang Center (CAT), Randall García, commented that the personnel under his charge have carried out 63 deportations and eight captures of members of the cliques, and that the work is carried out by human talent specialized in the search, location and arrest of Salvadoran, Honduran and Mexican criminals operating in Guatemalan territory.

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He added that they currently maintain continuous communication with the countries that make up the Northern Triangle of Central America, Mexico and Belize.

“Specific plans are being carried out in border areas where police presence has been maintained with operational control devices, investigation and police intelligence units to reduce the incursion of gang members due to the regime applied by the Government of El Salvador,” said Najarro.

Meanwhile, reports from Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM) show that in 2021 they arrested seven gang members, while in 2022 they closed with 22 arrests; the figure represents an increase of 214% over the previous year.

According to Mexican authorities, this increase is a result of the security policies implemented by President Bukele’s government against the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 gangs, which for many years generated terror among Salvadorans.

The latest captures were announced by Minister Gustavo Villatoro. Those arrested were Reyes de Jesús Flores Menjívar, alias Vilma, of the 18 Sureños gang, arrested in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, and José Steven Tablas López, alias Chele, of the MS-13 structure, apprehended in Tijuana, Mexico.

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The terrorists will be prosecuted for the crime of illicit groupings and will serve years in prison. “We are no longer the State that served the interests of criminals. Those times are over,” added the official.

Related Topics:Central America El Salvador Gangs Mexico

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