The National Civil Police (PNC) of El Salvador announced on Wednesday the arrest of six teenagers between the ages of 12 and 15. for posting videos on social networks in which they made gang-related gestures, specifically for the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13).
In line with juvenile justice reforms that will be implemented in 2023 as part of the Nayib Bukele government’s fight against gangs, the young people will be charged with crimes committed by illegal groups. This emerges from the police report several of the teenagers were identified in TikTok videos, Have signs related to MS-13. These arrests are in addition to those of two other young people arrested on Sunday for similar reasons.
Juvenile justice reforms aimed at combating gangs more aggressively For minors under 12 years of age, prison sentences of up to 10 years are imposed and up to 20 years for youth over 16 years old who are involved in gang activity.
Gustavo Villatoro, Minister of Justice and Public Security, highlighted that one of the minors arrested on Sunday was seen in a video in an educational institution making gestures related to the Mara Salvatrucha. In the case of the six recently captured teenagers: Police reported that they made gestures that referred to the same gang, i.e. Halso in an educational center.
Six teenagers between the ages of 12 and 15 were arrested by our agents in Chalatenango today, joining the two arrested last Sunday.
Several of them appear in Tik Tok videos “raffling off” the MS13.
When our investigators learned of the complaint, they began investigating and… pic.twitter.com/Ylz36pkrxN
— PNC El Salvador (@PNCSV) February 21, 2024
After receiving complaints, investigators determined that the young people had a group on social networks called “Group Cheros”, where they flaunted their alleged membership in MS-13 and attempted to recruit other young people to join the gangs. Aside from that, Evidence was found on their phones proving their connection to the organization. including adopting pseudonyms within gangs.
The police report shows that they were young people They also demanded financial donations to other threatened students of violence. Villatoro reiterated that the government is working to completely eradicate the presence of gangs in Salvadoran society and assured that those arrested will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
In El Salvador, a state of emergency has been in effect for almost two years as part of Bukele’s tough anti-gang policies. This measure suspends fundamental rights such as the right to association and access to a lawyer during detention. In addition, the penalties against gang members have been increased, as these organizations and their members are considered punishable.
Gangs including MS-13 and Barrio 18, They were designated as terrorist organizations by the Supreme Court of El Salvador in 2015. The latest legal reform provides for prison sentences of 20 to 40 years for members and 45 to 60 years for gang leaders.
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