By Chinonyerem Emmanuel
GUATEMALA CITY, Jan. 18 — Guatemala was thrust into a fresh wave of violence on Sunday after security forces retook control of a major prison complex and detained one of the country’s most powerful gang leaders, triggering coordinated retaliatory attacks against police, authorities said.
According to Guatemala’s National Civil Police, calm was restored at Renovación 1 prison, located near the southern city of Escuintla, after inmates had seized the facility a day earlier. The takeover was part of a broader prison revolt that spread across three penitentiaries, where gang members rioted and took dozens of hostages in a bid to pressure the government into granting greater privileges to their imprisoned leader.
During the operation, authorities subdued Aldo Duppie, known by his alias El Lobo, who is widely identified as the top leader of the notorious Barrio 18 gang. Images released by police showed officers escorting El Lobo from the prison under heavy guard, his shoulder visibly bloodied, underscoring the intensity of the confrontation.
But the government’s apparent victory inside the prison walls was quickly followed by violence beyond them.
Within hours of El Lobo’s capture, simultaneous attacks against police officers erupted in and around Guatemala City, signaling what officials described as a coordinated gang response. Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda confirmed that at least seven police officers were killed in multiple assaults, while ten others were wounded. One alleged gang member was also killed during the clashes.
“The state will not negotiate with criminal structures,” Villeda said firmly during a press briefing. “I am not making pacts with gangs. I am fully committed to upholding the rule of law.”
Villeda added that he had spoken directly with President Bernardo Arévalo and confirmed that joint security operations with the Guatemalan army would be deployed to reinforce urban centers and restore public order.
Meanwhile, National Civil Police Director David Boteo, speaking on local radio, warned that the threat was not limited to law enforcement targets. He did not rule out attacks against civilians and urged residents to remain indoors as a precaution.
The growing instability prompted swift action from other branches of government. Education Minister Anabella Giracca announced the nationwide suspension of school classes on Monday, citing security recommendations. Officials in Guatemala City also canceled all recreational and cultural events scheduled for Sunday.
“At this moment, the most important thing is the safety of students and teachers,” Giracca said.
While hostages held at Renovación 1 were freed following the intervention, authorities confirmed that 37 hostages remain captive at the two other prisons involved in Saturday’s unrest, keeping tensions high.
Barrio 18 has increasingly been treated as a national security threat. Guatemala’s Congress officially designated the gang a terrorist organization in October 2025, shortly after the administration of United States President Donald Trump classified it as a foreign terrorist organization.
El Lobo, the gang’s alleged supreme leader, is serving prison sentences totaling nearly 2,000 years for a long list of crimes. Adding a political dimension to the case, he is married to the niece of Sandra Torres, Guatemala’s former first lady and three-time presidential runner-up, most recently losing the 2023 election to President Arévalo.
As security forces remain on high alert and hostages are still being held, Guatemala faces an uncertain and volatile moment that underscores the enduring power of gangs and the steep cost of confronting them head-on.
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