The National Civil Police (PNC) reported that it has identified clandestine polygons in ravines in the metropolitan area, which are used by gang members for training with firearms that also function as escape routes in different criminal acts.
The details were provided by the Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation of the PNC, José Cornel, during a summons with Deputy José Chic.
Cornel stated that these clandestine polygons have been identified in El Mezquital, zone 12; in the Los Ángeles neighborhood, zone 6, and in Canalitos, zone 24. He added that the ravines in these areas are used by the Mara Salvatrucha and the Neighborhood 18 to train gang members.
“They improvise these places for those they recruit, they train them and there is the generational change that is complicated, one impacts the structure at certain levels, but they generate their generational change,” explained the deputy director.
Gangs diversify operations towards drug dealing
In addition to the use of these polygons, Cornel indicated that they have detected an evolution in the criminal activities of the gangs, which have gone from extortion to drug distribution.
According to the deputy director, these structures have changed their way of operating to evade police controls.
“These people, due to their time and economic capacity, have innovated. They no longer operate in traditional drug sales points. Before, raids were carried out, these places were closed for a few days, but then they reopened or moved the activity to another location,” he explained.
The official added that they now use new modalities, such as home distribution.
“They have evolved towards new modalities, even with door-to-door drug distributors. In this way, they have changed the way these products are marketed.”
You could read: Gangs mutate into drug dealing: they control up to 80% of the market and recruit minors in schools
PNC registers 17 armed attacks due to territorial conflict
During the summons, the Deputy Director General of Operations of the PNC, Esvin Jacinto Quiché, indicated that in the last three weeks there have been 17 armed attacks related to the territorial struggle between the Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18.
The increase in these violent events has been recorded in zone 6 of the capital and in Amatitlán.
“If other sectors where Caradura is present are reviewed, they are also involved. However, in the last three or four weeks, the criminal investigation has determined that these are events between Barrio 18 and MS,” explained Quiché.
Territorial control and expansion in zone 6
Investigations indicate that the Mara Salvatrucha maintains control in key sectors and seeks to expand drug dealing in zone 6.
“In the case of zone 6, the Mara Salvatrucha, which has had a partnership with Caradura, is the one that has the greatest product to expand that business,” he explained.
Distribution points
The authorities have identified several places where drugs are sold at retail in zone 6:
- Nightclubs
- Bars
- Cevicherias
- Stores
- Exclusive properties for distribution
Cornel commented that they cannot give details of how the investigations against gangs and drug dealing structures are progressing, but they hope that in the next 15 days they will carry out operations together with the Public Ministry.