Proceedings tied to President Bukele’s anti-gang campaign target suspects accused of tens of thousands of offenses, including 29,000 killings.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
El Salvador has initiated large-scale court proceedings against hundreds of suspected members of the gang MS-13, with prosecutors alleging their involvement in tens of thousands of crimes over the past decade.
According to authorities, 486 individuals are being tried in connection with approximately 47,000 offenses committed between 2012 and 2022, including an estimated 29,000 homicides. The sweeping case is part of a broader crackdown on gang activity led by President Nayib Bukele.
The prosecutions follow years of detentions under emergency security measures that have drawn attention for holding suspects for extended periods without formal charges or access to family visits, as reported by CBS News.
Officials said the charges include one of the deadliest incidents attributed to the gang, involving the killing of 87 people over a single weekend in March 2022.
The Attorney General’s Office stated that the cases aim to address large-scale criminal activity attributed to MS-13, a transnational gang with a significant presence in Central America.
The trials are part of Bukele’s ongoing security strategy, which has focused on dismantling organized crime networks. Government officials have linked the campaign to a reduction in crime rates across the country in recent years.
The proceedings mark one of the largest collective prosecutions in the nation’s history, as authorities continue efforts to address gang-related violence and its long-term impact on public safety.
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