He Public Ministry (MP) reported this May 8, 2026 about a new phase of investigation of the case “Drop by Drop”in which the alleged participation of workers from the Guatemalan Migration Institute (IGM) in a criminal structure that operated from Colombia and in Guatemala was dedicated to illegal money lending and facilitating the irregular stay of foreigners in Guatemala.
The information was released by Luis Vinicio Silvain charge of the office of the Prosecutor’s Office against Transnational Crimesduring a press conference at the MP headquarters.
Coordinated operation from Colombia
According to the Public Ministry, the criminal structure linked to the “Gota a Gota” case was coordinated from Colombia, a country from where they recruited people to operate illegal loans in Guatemala.
These are some characteristics of the loans known as “drop by drop”:
- Small amounts: The credits usually range between Q500 and Q5 thousand.
- Short terms: Typically, they must be paid within a few days or weeks.
- High interest rates: Interest can increase drastically in case of delay.
- Additional charges: They include late fees or other unjustified charges.
- Aggressive collection methods: Constant calls, visits to the home or workplace, and threats are reported.
- Lack of transparency: The terms of the loan or the total amount to be paid are not clearly explained.
Immigration employees would have collaborated with the Colombian network
During the new phase called “Drop by Drop: Migration”the Prosecutor’s Office detected that alleged members of the criminal structure maintained links with IGM workers.
According to the investigation, foreign citizens entered the country legally, but remained in Guatemala longer than authorized. To appear legal, immigration officials allegedly placed immigration stamps in passports and altered official records.
During the conference, the Public Ministry explained that the criminal structure had two modes of operation to facilitate the irregular stay of foreigners linked to the “Gota a Gota” network.
First mode of operation
The so-called “processors” received the passports of foreign citizens and delivered them to workers from the Guatemalan Migration Institute (IGM), who carried out the illicit stamping.
In addition, people outside the institution had access to the computer systems to enter false immigration movements and simulate legal exits or entries into the country.
Second mode of operation
Officials illegally moved the immigration stamps outside the IGM facilities and coordinated meetings at different points to place the stamps in the passports.
Later, when they returned to their jobs, they entered the altered information into the official system to give the appearance of legality to the foreigners’ stay in Guatemala.
Operations and captures in May 2026
On May 5, 2025, the Transnational Crime Prosecutor’s Office and the National Civil Police (PNC) they executed 30 raids in the departments of Guatemala, Quetzaltenango, Santa Rosa, Sololá and San Marcos.
The preliminary result was the capture of 14 peopleamong them four delegates from the Guatemalan Migration Institute.
The detainees, according to the data provided by the MP prosecutor, are being investigated for the crimes of:
- breach of duties
- and laundering money or other assets
Although the prosecutor who provided the details at the May 8 conference did not specify whether all those captured are charged with the same crimes.
Seized evidence
During the raids in the different places, the authorities seized:
The prosecution highlighted that several official seals were found outside authorized facilities, which strengthened the hypothesis of internal collaboration within the immigration system.
Investigation began in 2024
According to the prosecutor’s office, the investigations began in February 2024, after receiving police information about a criminal organization originally from Colombia that operated in Guatemala under the loans known as “Drop by Drop”.
The investigations established that the network operated nationwide and mainly recruited people from vulnerable sectors, such as market vendors and small merchants who needed immediate access to money.
The MP explained that the loans were granted with High interest rates and coercive collection mechanisms. When victims could not make payments, they were subjected to threats, extortion, and theft of property.
“The victims begin to be harassed, threatened and, on many occasions, their vehicles or property are taken away,” Silva explained.
MP assures that investigations continue
The Public Ministry stated that the investigations against the structures dedicated to the illegal “Gota a Gota” loan continue to be developed and did not rule out new arrests.
Likewise, he called on the population to report threats, extortion and illegal loan operations linked to these criminal networks.