During the early hours of this Saturday, May 16, teams from the Penitentiary Systemthe National Civil Police and the Guatemalan Army they carried out the operation “Total Iron”in jail Renewal 1in Escuintla, confirmed at the end of the day the Ministry of the Interior (Mingob).
According to Mingobthe operation began with the transfer of nine ringleaders of criminal structures towards a high security pavilionbuilt during the last months under strict security protocols and operational confidentiality.
The ministry indicated that the objective of the operation is to isolate those deprived of liberty, recover effective control of the penitentiary system and break command structures and illicit communication from prison.
Total isolation operation
In a video broadcast on social networks, the Mingob indicated that the new space was strategically enabled to keep inmates under conditions of total isolation and strengthen controls within the country’s prisons.
Elite group teams @_SPGuatemalaof the @PNCdeGuatemala and of @Ejercito_GT develop the operation #TotalIron: with the mission of transferring prisoners to a space with total isolation and seeking to improve controls in prisons. 💪🇬🇹 pic.twitter.com/51tpsHPfM9
— MinGob (@mingobguate) May 17, 2026
The authorities added that the measure is part of a comprehensive strategy to reinforce security and prevent criminal structures from continuing to coordinate crimes from prisons.
In the images shared by the Ministry of the Interior Several prisoners are seen being transferred under strong security measures. Among them is Aldo Duppie Ochoa Mejía, alias “the Wolf””, identified as the leader of Barrio 18.
Unofficial information indicated in the afternoon that nine people had been transferred to the new isolation area, at the Canada Rehabilitation Farm, in Escuintla. All members of the Rueda del Barrio, the coordination center of Barrio 18.
Renovation 1 and its background
Renovación 1 remained under the attention of the authorities in recent months due to riots, damage to the facilities and findings of illegal acts within the prison.
The prison was also identified in investigations related to alleged privileges for gang members and the entry of weapons, cell phones, cash and drugs.
Among the ringleaders who were previously held in Renovation 1 were:
From Barrio 18:
- Aldo Duppie Ochoa Mejía
- Wilder Rodríguez Aguilar
- Mayro De Leon Hernandez
- Jarvin Leonel Itzoy Cruz
- Manuel de Jesús Rivas Granados
Linked to the Mara Salvatrucha.
- Angel Gabriel Reyes Marroquín
- Jorge Jair de León Hernández
- Amílcar Galileo Torres Rosales
- Nixon Bantes González
- Ronal Bosbeli Choc German
The Ministry of the Interior He indicated that he will expand the information about the operation when the security actions developed in Renovation 1 are concluded.
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