The Ministry of the Interior (Mingob) recognized that May was the month with the most homicides registered in 2026, and that the increase responds to territorial disputes between criminal structures.
The National Economic Research Center (CIEN) reported on June 24 that May closed with 297 homicides, the highest monthly figure of the year, although still lower than the 305 registered in the same month of 2025. The CIEN also explained that despite the increase in cases of homicidal violence, the interannual rate decreased from 17.4 to 16.2 per 100,000 inhabitants.
The Interior Ministry recognized the figures presented by the CIEN, but explained that several criminal groups that are responsible for this increase in cases are already being investigated.
Furthermore, the Mingob justified that the homicidal violence is not generalized, but is focused on 10 departments of the country.
“85% of the crimes are concentrated in only 10 departments, led by the department of Guatemala, with 42% of the cases. Therefore, the increase in May does not reflect a collapse of the security system, but rather the need to readjust operations in specific critical points,” Mingob commented institutionally.
The data
On June 24, the CIEN presented its Homicidal Violence Index report where it stands out that between January and May 2026, 1,172 homicides were recorded, while in the same period of 2025, 1,345 were recorded.
The analysis also confirms that homicidal violence continues to be concentrated in young men.
Of the 297 violent deaths recorded in May, 35 victims were women. Furthermore, 59.3% of the victims were between 18 and 35 years old.
The 10 most violent departments
According to official figures, processed by the CIEN, 85% of homicidal violence is concentrated in 10 departments of the country, and of these, almost half of the events occur in the department of Guatemala.
- • Guatemala: 489
- • Escuintla: 133
- • Petén: 78
- • Chiquimula: 59
- • Santa Rosa: 56
- • Izabal: 53
- • Chimaltenango: 36
- • Jalapa: 34
- • Jutiapa: 33
- • Zacapa: 29
Operational
As part of the actions to contain the violence, the Mingob reported that it is executing a security plan that includes combined patrols between the National Civil Police (PNC) and the Guatemalan Army, in the areas with the highest incidence of the capital, Villa Nueva, Mixco and Escuintla.
In addition, he noted that he carries out weekly raids through the National Division against the Criminal Development of Gangs (Dipanda), to dismantle cliques of the terrorist groups MS-13 and Barrio 18.
These terrorist groups “invigorate murders for extortion. In addition, search operations have increased on main routes and urban centers to seize illegal weapons, considering that the majority of homicides are carried out with these,” the ministry indicated.
The CIEN, in its monthly report, also warned that although the indicators show a reduction compared to last year, it is necessary to strengthen crime prevention, the penitentiary system and the targeting of police operations to sustain the downward trend. The research center also recommended expanding prison infrastructure and strengthening actions to prevent criminal activities, such as extortion, from being coordinated in prisons.