Seven National Civil Police officers arrested for the alleged illegal sale of weapons in Guatemala

Seven agents of Guatemala's National Civil Police face charges for the theft and illegal sale of weapons and ammunition. (PNC of Guatemala) Seven agents of Guatemala's National Civil Police (PNC) were arrested in an investigation into the alleged theft and illegal sale of weapons and ammunition. The case includes possible crimes of embezzlement by theft and illicit association, according to preliminary information released after the raids carried out by the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP). The operations, conducted this Wednesday, September 30, reached the facilities of the Division for the Protection of Persons and Security (DPPS) in zone 3 of the Guatemalan capital. Vehicles from the PNC Inspector General's Office and the Specialized Division in Criminal Investigation (DEIC) entered the headquarters as part of the proceedings. The initial actions of the operation included the arrest of three civilians in the department of Jutiapa. (Prensa Libre) Two of the detainees were brought before the Third Criminal Court, where the reasons for their arrest were explained to them. The first statement was scheduled for October 14. Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutor's Office reported through its social media that it is working in coordination with the Inspector General's Office of the National Civil Police and that, for now, it is conducting ten raids in different departments of the country with the aim of gathering evidence. In addition, it confirmed that the operations are "related to an investigation into the alleged theft and illegal sale of ammunition assigned to the National Civil Police that would have ended up in the hands of criminal structures." According to the report, drugs, firearms, ammunition reserved for the exclusive use of the Army and security forces, electronic devices, and cash have been seized so far. People with active arrest warrants have also been captured. So far, drugs, firearms, ammunition reserved for the exclusive use of the Army and security forces, electronic devices, and cash have been seized. (Public Prosecutor's Office of Guatemala) The Minister of the Interior, Marco Antonio Villeda, stated that the investigation began within the institution's Inspector General's Office and later received the support of a prosecutor's office from the Public Prosecutor's Office. "We have detected a theft of ammunition at the Directorate for the Protection of Personalities and Security," Villeda said, referring to the operations during the La Ronda press conference held this Wednesday at the National Palace of Culture. The official explained that the raids seek to advance that line of investigation. According to the minister, the initial actions resulted in the detention of four PNC members, including an officer, in addition to three civilians arrested in the department of Jutiapa. Guatemala's Minister of the Interior, Marco Antonio Villeda, stated that the investigations into the illegal sale of National Civil Police weapons arose from an internal discovery and confirmed the arrest of agents and an officer. Subsequent information released about the case indicates that the total number of arrested agents rose to seven. Villeda insisted that the case originated from an investigation into the alleged irregular removal of ammunition from the police facility. "This is what the National Civil Police Inspectorate began investigating and it is now receiving the support of the Public Prosecutor's Office," he said. During his statement, the head of the Interior Ministry distinguished between agents acting in the performance of their duty and those under investigation for possible acts of corruption. Villeda stated that police officers facing situations arising from the protection of citizens or the legitimate use of force will have institutional backing and, if necessary, legal counsel to prove legitimate defense or the exercise of duty. The investigating body detailed that the operations are related to an investigation into the alleged theft and illegal sale of ammunition assigned to the National Civil Police. (Public Prosecutor's Office of Guatemala) But he took a different stance regarding the facts under investigation. "Any police agent who becomes involved in activities related to corruption walks alone, is completely alone, and is at the mercy of any investigation and the action of justice," he said. The minister added that he will not step up "to defend" or support any member of the force who turns out to be involved in this type of conduct. According to him, that directive motivated the opening of the investigations through the Inspector General's Office. The investigating body reported that it is conducting ten raids in different parts of the country. (Public Prosecutor's Office of Guatemala) The General Directorate of the National Civil Police reported that it will cooperate with the authorities' requirements following the Public Prosecutor's Office raids. In a statement, it maintained that transparency and adherence to the law are "non-negotiable" principles in the exercise of police functions. The National Civil Police stated in a communiqué that strict adherence to the law is a non-negotiable principle. (PNC of Guatemala) The institution also assured that it will apply a policy of "zero tolerance for corruption." It added that any member who steps outside the legal framework will be handed over to the judicial authorities and will face the corresponding administrative and disciplinary proceedings. The deputy general director of Criminal Investigation of the PNC, José Cornel, confirmed that an investigation is underway, although he avoided giving details due to the confidentiality of the case. He indicated that the operational proceedings are being carried out by the Inspector General's Office, with the support of a prosecutor's office from the Public Prosecutor's Office.