El Salvador and Guatemala strengthen ties of cooperation in tourism, migration and security

Since Sunday, law enforcement forces took full control of four districts of Chalatenango Sur with the aim of dismantling what little remains of a structure of the 18 gang, whose members are linked to two murders.

In response to these crimes, the President of the Republic, Nayib Bukele, ordered 5,000 soldiers and 1,000 police officers to fence the entrances and exits of the following districts: San José Cancasque, San Antonio Los Ranchos, Potonico and San Isidro Labrador to safeguard life of all residents and to find the whereabouts of more criminals.

Through his social networks, the president expressed: «A few days ago, there were two homicides in the northern part of our country. “We have already captured the two culprits, members of the 18 Sureños gang.”

In addition, he warned criminals: “We are not going to stop until we eradicate what little remains of the gangs.” President Bukele’s instructions were immediately attended to by the Minister of Defense, René Francis Merino Monroy.

“We will completely clean the area, we will extract every last remnant of gangs,” said the military chief.

Thus, in less than 24 hours after the military fence was installed, the authorities have arrested eight criminals, of which two are directly linked to the homicides. The suspects were identified as Emmanuel Bartolo Quintanilla, alias Pantera; and José Elías Ramírez, alias El Humilde.

The director of the Police, Commissioner Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, assured that there is sufficient evidence linking the accused in these crimes.

Police investigations have revealed that these subjects are homeboys of the 18 Sureños gang, a remnant that remained hidden from police operations, but today they were arrested.

The murders for which these criminals are accused were recorded in the Guarjila canton, in the Chalatenango district, on Monday, March 18 and Friday, March 22 in San Antonio Los Ranchos; The victims were attacked with shotguns, which were confiscated from the criminals.

CRIMINALS FOLLOWED THE VICTIMS

The Police have established that the criminals followed the victims similarly when they were going to parties in vehicles; When they reached desolate areas, they crossed logs, stones and even vehicles so that they could stop moving so they could shoot them.

These are criminal acts that were planned by the gang structure.

The security fence includes vehicle controls in which it is confirmed that criminals do not try to leave the area through this route, in addition, searches to detect if there is the transfer of firearms, drugs or other illicit activities.

Law enforcement agencies also verify the legality of those who live in community homes to ensure that they are not usurped by criminals.

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