The General Subdirectorate of Criminal Investigation of the PNC, together with the Public Ministry (MP), executed 28 raids in search of a band called death pirates, assault syndicates and at least 23 deaths.
The raids occurred in the municipalities of Villa Canales, Santa Catarina Pinula, Villa Nueva, San Pedro Ayampuc, San Juan Sacatepéquez, San Miguel Petapa, Guatemala, Palencia, Mixco and Sanarate.
The cateos were made with the objective of capturing 18 alleged members of the band, syndicated by the crimes of murder, murder in the degree of attempt, conspiracy for the crime of murder, aggravated robbery, theft, theft of mobile terminal equipment, conspiracy through mobile terminal equipment, plagiarism or kidnapping, fraudulent use of credit cards and debit, and illegal association.
How they operated
According to the investigations, in 2024 a criminal phenomenon was identified in the department of Guatemala related to pirate taxis pilots.
“These captured their victims in canteens and expenditures of alcoholic beverages. When people were drunk, they were approaching them, they invited them to consume more alcoholic beverages and, when they gained their trust, they offered them to take them to their residences,” the police said.
The investigations revealed that the pilots adulterated the drinks to leave their victims unconscious, strip them of their belongings and use their bank cards to make purchases. Subsequently, they abandoned people on public roads.
“They unfortunately died from poisoning, not receiving medical care,” adds the police report.
At least 40 criminal acts are attributed to this structure, of which 23 resulted in deaths.
In addition, the authorities indicated that to commit the crimes they used at least 19 vehicles that operated as pirate taxis.
Robberies for until q40 thousand
María José Mansilla, spokeswoman of the MP, reported that this structure also operated in service stations. One of the members carried a point of sale (POS) device with which they made fraudulent purchases for amounts between Q10 thousand and Q40 thousand.
The Prosecutor’s Office of Crimes against Life and Integrity of people investigates the 23 deaths linked to this criminal group.