He drug dealing in Guatemala It has been consolidated as a criminal activity linked to the financing of criminal structures, with an average of 10 daily arrests and new forms of operation that include surveillance with cameras and home distribution, indicated authorities from the Ministry of the Interior and the National Civil Police (PNC) during a summons with Deputy José Chic.
The Vice Minister of the Interior, Víctor Hugo Cruz Reynoso, warned that this phenomenon should not be considered a minor crime, due to its impact on organized crime.
“Drug dealing begins as financing not only of terrorists, terrorist groups that are now involved in a gang land dispute, but also of transnational organized crime groups. We must pay attention to the fact that it is something real, something serious, but that we need to work comprehensively,” he commented.
Cruz said that it is important to strengthen institutions to work together so that intelligence teams can follow up on cases and solve them. According to the official, two structures linked to drug dealing mainly operate in the country.
“We have two large maps: Mara 18 and Mara MS, which are in different areas of the national territory,” he indicated.
During the summons, the congressman questioned the officials about the role that Los Caradura plays in the distribution of drugs to these gangs, but they did not respond.
Cruz detailed that, during 2026, the Police have captured, on average, 10 drug dealers every day in operations in the country.
“Six months ago we began to work a strong frontal fight, not only against criminal structures, but also against drug dealing. So far this year There are more than 1,200 captures“explained the vice minister.
Drug dealing operation
The director of the PNC, David Custodio Boteo, explained that drug dealing operates through points of sale in apparently legal businesses, as well as with mobile distribution.
“One of the real problems we have is that drug dealing or microtrafficking has to be addressed in a strategic way, including due to the issue of asset forfeiture,” he added.
Custodio Boteo commented that, despite the raids and seizures, they need the support of the Public Ministry and the Judicial Branch to be able to extinguish the homes, bars, hotels and nightclubs where drugs are distributed.
The Police Director stated that, the week after closing the business and capturing the suspects, the structure once again used the properties to continue distributing narcotics.
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Use of cameras and territorial control
Criminal structures have incorporated technology to strengthen their territorial control, according to the PNC.
“In zone 3, more than 20 cameras are being removed that are linked to the issue of drug dealing. There are 120 cameras seized this year, linked to territorial control and the criminal economy of gangs and criminal groups,” said Custodio.
Gang evolution and distribution
The gangs have evolved from intermediaries to direct drug distributors, which has increased their income, according to the Police.
“Before, the gangs were only intermediaries; now they are drug traffickers, because they distribute drugs in the different points where before they were only suppliers. Practically, they have been taking over that criminal market that is generating them more money, more benefits than extortion,” said the director of the PNC.
Barrio 18 and the Mara Salvatrucha have modified the way drugs are distributed; Now they use mobile applications for sale and transportation to different parts of the country.
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Social impact and recruitment
The Police indicated that drug dealing has reached minors and educational spaces, which aggravates its social impact.
“In schools, children are trying to enter these illegal activities. Previously, we had in the department of Jutiapa a girl who wanted to bring in six or seven bags of marijuana; two children who were murdered in Flores Costa Cuca, Quetzaltenango, one of whom even had drugs among his belongings,” Custodio said.