Youth gangs control entire neighborhoods in El Salvador and are involved in racketeering and drug trafficking. The government of one of the most dangerous countries in the world is now taking full action against the «maras».
Police officers arrive in Soyapango, a suburb of El Salvador’s capital, on Saturday (3/12). They take action against youth gangs.
(dpa) During a major operation against the powerful youth gangs in El Salvador, the security forces cordoned off the city of Soyapango and searched for gang members. President Nayib Bukele announced on Saturday that 8,500 soldiers and 1,500 police officers were involved in the operation in the greater area of the capital San Salvador.
“Ordinary citizens have nothing to fear and can continue their lives normally,” wrote the populist head of state on Twitter. “This is an operation against criminals, not against honest citizens.”
A partir de estos momentos, el municipio de Soyapango está totalmente cercado.
8,500 soldados and 1,500 agents han rodeado la ciudad, mientras los equipos de extracción de la policia and el ejército se encargan de sacar uno a uno a todos los pandilleros que aún se encuentran ahí. pic.twitter.com/9QIpj0ziwX
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) December 3, 2022
State of emergency since March
After a wave of violence in the Central American country of six million people, the government declared a state of emergency in March. Since then, the government of conservative President Bukele has been cracking down on the gangs with great severity. More than 56,000 suspected gang members were arrested, and the murder rate has recently fallen significantly. However, activists denounce human rights violations.
Youth gangs – the so-called “maras” – control entire neighborhoods in El Salvador and are involved in racketeering and drug trafficking. A few years ago, violence between hostile gangs and against the population made El Salvador one of the most dangerous countries in the world.