Elements of the Civil National Police (PNC) of El Salvador, in collaboration with authorities from Mexico and Guatemala, carried out the capture of five alleged members of criminal organizations who were attempting to evade Salvadoran justice.
According to the Minister of Security, Gustavo Villatoro, the arrests took place in Mexican territory and the detainees have already been handed over to Salvadoran authorities.
According to the Ministry of Security, among those detained is Remberto Ismael C. R., known as "Little Man," who recently appeared in a report by a digital media outlet.
Villatoro stated that, during that media exposure, "pseudo journalists" offered the detainee asylum and protection in Mexico in exchange for his participation in the interview. The official emphasized that, despite these attempts, "justice always catches up with criminals."
Along with C. R., authorities received Diego Omar C. M. ("Brother of Andrea"), Josué Antonio A. C., Juan Carlos G. V. ("Seco"), and Luis Roberto J. ("Adobe"), all with current criminal records.
Minister Villatoro indicated that the five will be prosecuted for illegal associations and other crimes, as part of the policy of a frontal fight against criminal structures.
The Ministry of Security stressed this Monday that the arrests were achieved thanks to international coordination and the legal tools available to them.
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El Salvador received five detainees in Mexico (Photo released by the Minister of Security of El Salvador, Gustavo Villatoro) Members of the Civil National Police (PNC) of El Salvador, in collaboration with authorities from Mexico and Guatemala, carried out the arrest of five alleged members of criminal organizations who were trying to evade Salvadoran justice. According to the Minister of Security, Gustavo Villatoro, the arrests took place in Mexican territory and the detainees have already been handed over to Salvadoran authorities. According to the Ministry of Security, among those detained is Remberto Ismael C. R., known as "Little Man," who recently appeared in a report by a digital media outlet. Villatoro stated that, during that media exposure, "pseudo journalists" offered the detainee asylum and protection in Mexico in exchange for his participation in the interview. The official emphasized that, despite these attempts, "justice always catches up with criminals." Along with C. R., authorities received Diego Omar C. M. ("Brother of Andrea"), Josué Antonio A. C., Juan Carlos G. V. ("Seco"), and Luis Roberto J. ("Adobe"), all with current criminal records. Minister Villatoro indicated that the five will be prosecuted for illicit associations and other crimes, as part of the policy of a frontal fight against criminal structures. The Ministry of Security highlighted this Monday that the arrests were achieved thanks to international coordination and the legal tools available to the State. "We have a strong State and we are fighting these criminal organizations so they do not become a threat again," Villatoro affirmed. The Ministry of Security attributes the blow to legal tools and regional cooperation. The detainees have current criminal records. Now begins the key stage: the process for illicit associations and other crimes (Photo released by the Minister of Security of El Salvador, Gustavo Villatoro) The operation was coordinated by the Civil National Police (PNC) and is part of the security strategy implemented in El Salvador to dismantle criminal networks operating beyond borders. The Ministry of Security specified that those captured will remain in custody and face charges before the appropriate courts. The Government of El Salvador reaffirmed that it will continue its "zero tolerance" policy against criminal groups and that cooperation with neighboring countries will be maintained to prevent these individuals from evading legal action. Hundreds of years of sentences for gang members In the country, belonging to a gang is already a crime, and in a trial, other crimes committed within it, such as extortion, homicides, rapes, among others, are added. In July, a court sentenced 56 MS-13 gang members to up to 180 years in prison for serious crimes committed between 2015 and 2020 in Tamanique, Jicalapa, Chiltiupán, and Teotepeque, in La Libertad, Costa Rica. Among the crimes attributed to this structure is the murder of footballer Jonathan Arnoldo Cristales Vásquez, who was shot by several masked individuals while playing on a field in Jicalapa. Among those convicted are a ranflero, two program runners, five clique runners, 18 homeboys, four checkers, and another 20 members. Notable sentences include Henry Giovanni Lobos Pérez, with the rank of homeboy, sentenced to 180 years; Juan Pablo Barrera Ramírez, a ranflero of the Porteños program, to 170 years (added to a previous sentence of 100 years); Melvin Adalberto Munguía Lobo to 142 years; Moisés Martínez Vigil to 130 years; René Adán Cartagena to 91 years; and José Jonathan Ramírez Ángel to 78 years in prison. The PNC worked with Mexican and Guatemalan authorities to locate the accused, transfer them to the country, and place them in custody as part of the official security strategy (Photo released by the Minister of Security of El Salvador, Gustavo Villatoro). These criminals were part of the gangs San Diego Locos Salvatruchos, Cangrejeras Locos Salvatruchos, Melaras Locos Salvatruchos, Porteños Locos Salvatruchos, Bosques Locos Salvatruchos, and Chiltiupanes Locos Salvatruchos, all belonging to the Porteños program of MS-13. The accused were found guilty of aggravated homicide, illicit associations, illegal trafficking, arms trafficking, as well as preparatory acts, propositions, conspiracy, and criminal associations related to drug crimes.