During an operation in Centra Norte, the National Civil Police (PNC) confiscated nine pirate taxis that operated from the route to the Atlantic to the historic center.
The PNC reported that the diligence, developed in coordination with the Public Ministry, the Municipal Traffic Police of Guatemala and investigators, was carried out in monitoring of citizen complaints for express kidnappings and robberies.
The authorities indicated that the complaints have allowed to implement operational and investigation actions in zone 18, where nine vehicles that operated without municipal authorization were consigned and tried to go unnoticed. According to the PNC, these cars have also been used for the transfer of corpses, weapons and drugs.
The police report explained that during the operation Pirate taxi pilots threatened cranes drivers that moved the consigned cars.
Edwin Monroy, spokesman for the institution, indicated that several criminal structures linked to pirate taxi drivers have been dismantled, including the band called “Pirates of death”, who are attributed to the death of 23 people.
“Therefore, the police have implemented inter -institutional operations focused on pirate taxis. This Friday, in zone 18, nine vehicles were recorded for lacking legal documentation and the drivers were profiled,” he explained.
Monroy added that it is investigated if the seized taxis have been used in criminal acts, and assured that the operations against these bands will continue.
Case “Pirates of Death”
Pirate taxi pilots and Two police officers They are pointed out of murder crimes, attempt murder, 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 and debit cards, and illegal association.
The MP explained that the first case attributed to the structure “Pirates of Death” was identified in January 2023 and the last in August 2024. This criminal phenomenon was recorded in the department of Guatemala and is 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 were invited to consume more alcoholic beverages and, when they gained their trust, they offered to take them to their residences, the police said.
The investigations revealed that the pilots They adulterated 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 intoxicated, 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.