The Tenth Criminal Sentencing Court postponed to August 10 the continuation of the trial against Marvin Estuardo Alfaro Bravo, alias “Stuart”, accused by the Public Ministry (MP) of laundering money from drug trafficking activities and directing a criminal structure that, allegedly, had the collaboration of agents of the National Civil Police (PNC) to avoid his capture and hinder the investigations against him.
During the hearing held this Monday, July 27, the last pending evidence within the oral and public debate was completed. Once that phase was concluded, the judges decided to suspend the hearing and set the start of the conclusions stage for August 10, in which the MP, the defense and the complainants will present their final arguments.
Alfaro Bravo remains in prison and faces charges of illicit association, promotion and promotion of activities related to drug trafficking, as well as money laundering or other assets.
The judicial process has also gained relevance again after Alexandro José Galindo Arellano, whose capture, in 2016, gave rise to the investigation against the structure attributed to Alfaro Bravo, survived an armed attack that recently occurred in San Miguel Dueñas, Sacatepéquez.
In that event, two men died, identified by the authorities as alleged gang members, who were shot while traveling in a pick-up truck. Galindo Arellano was injured and survived the attack.
The authorities are investigating the case and link it to disputes between criminal structures, including the Mara Salvatrucha, Barrio 18 and the group known as Los Caradura.
The capture that started the investigation
The investigation against the alleged drug trafficking structure began on August 10, 2016, when agents captured Galindo Arellano at La Aurora International Airport.
According to the Drug Crimes Prosecutor’s Office, the detainee intended to travel to Switzerland with 77 drug capsules hidden inside his body.
According to the MP, this capture allowed an investigation to be carried out that led to the seizure of four kilograms of cocaine and US$200,000 in cash, seized on June 14, 2018.
Operational
On March 13, 2019, the Narcotics Crimes Prosecutor’s Office carried out 40 raids in Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, San Marcos, Suchitepéquez and Escuintla.
As a result, 15 people were captured, including individuals and five PNC agents.
The MP maintains that the main ringleader was Marvin Estuardo Alfaro Bravo, alias “Stuart”, former member of the Specialized Criminal Investigation Division (DEIC).
According to the indictment, the organization, identified as The Stuartswould have operated between May 25, 2017 and March 13, 2019 and was dedicated to international drug trafficking, storage of narcotics and money laundering.
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