El Salvador Sentences 248 MS-13 Gang Members Amid Ongoing Crackdown
El Salvador's attorney general's office announced the sentencing of 248 MS-13 gang members, involving charges such as 43 homicides and 42 disappearances among other crimes. One individual was given a prison term of 1,335 years, while 10 others received sentences ranging from 463 to 958 years. The precise dates of the sentences and whether these cases were tried en masse were not specified.
These sentences occur within the context of a state of emergency crackdown on gangs that has been in place since March 2022, allowing arrests without warrants. Since the crackdown began, over 90,000 people have been detained, with about 8,000 released after being found not guilty. The government claims this crackdown has led to historically low homicide rates, although human rights groups have accused security forces of abuses.
MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs are blamed for approximately 200,000 deaths over the past three decades and once controlled an estimated 80% of El Salvador. These gangs have extorted local business owners, forcing some to close their businesses due to threats. The United States has designated MS-13 and other regional gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.
