The Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 commit murders, extortion, drug trafficking and other illegal activities.
Guatemala City, January 5 (RHC) Guatemala has captured 112 suspected gang members from El Salvador in 2023, as part of the Ministry of Interior's (Mingob) fight against transnational crime underway this Friday.
According to the latest data published by this portfolio, 34 of these criminals were detained for various crimes and 78 were expelled and handed over to the relevant authorities of the neighboring country.
“This positive outcome underscores the importance of joint investigative and intelligence work by both nations to detect and neutralize these criminal elements,” Mingob commented.
He highlighted that this week they coordinated the first delivery of 27-year-old Gerson José Rubio Amaya, alias Popeye, in 2024 at the border with Anguiatú, in Concepción Las Minas, in the department of Chiquimula, between Guatemala and El Salvador.
At this location, members of the neighboring Transnational Anti-Gang Center received the person who strengthens international cooperation in combating crime, the ministry said.
According to the Chapin security force report, this individual has four prior convictions for theft, receiving and illegal trafficking.
After the emergency regime (“war” against gangs) was initiated in June 2022 by the executive of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, numerous members of these structures fled to Central America and other countries.
The Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 carry out killings, extortion, drug trafficking and other illegal activities, which led Guatemala to strengthen border security and multiply operations.