The illegal operation of private security guards is a problem that authorities and organizations dedicated to providing that service have already identified.
Data up April 2025, of the General Directorate of Private Security Services (DIGESSP) of the Ministry of the Interior, indicate that there are registered and authorized 273 private security companies in the country and that there are 23 thousand 872 guards under registration. In 2024 there were 259 service providers.
However, it is believed that at least 90 thousand private agents work illegally and that puts users of this service at risk.
In the country there are about 110 thousand private guards, between registered and unregistered, and that amount almost tripled the 42 thousand agents of the National Civil Police (PNC).
The data add that for each agent, an average of three firearms of different calibers are recorded. According to the DIGESSP, private security companies report 109 thousand 173 firearms. Approximately 30% are revolvers, 49% shotguns and 21% guns.
César Mérida, of the Association of Professionals for Risk Prevention and Integral Protection (Apripri), commented have identified the Irregular service between 60 thousand and 90 thousand guards. He adds that some companies do not register private guards to evade the payment of operations licenses, salary benefits for workers, taxes to the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT) and the registration of personnel at the Guatemalan Institute of Social Security (IGSS).
Jorge Santizo, in charge of the DIGESSP, commented that identifying companies that operate illegally is a task that involves the management, companies, guards and citizens.
How to report
The official said that Guatemalans can report condominium agents, shopping centers, schools and other businesses at 1578, sending a letter to the headquarters of the institution in zone 8 capital or an email to infodigessp@2MMMMMMiM
He added that citizens’ complaints against guards are to carry out verifications and determine if they operate regularly.
In addition, the guards can also denounce businessmen anonymously, for not complying with the benefits of law, a contract or anomalies of the company.
He commented that companies that wish to hire private security can consult the DIGESSP page, where there is a list of those who do meet permits. The web portal where the list is located is https://digessp.gob.gt/empresas-de-seguridad-privada-registradas-ante-digessp/