A vehicle assigned to the Vice Presidency of the Republic of Guatemala was stolen from a parking lot of the Ministry of Administrative and Security Affairs of the Presidency (SAAS), located in front of the Presidential House, and the investigations have shown that an employee of the Government would have cooperated with an alleged member of a criminal structure to commit the fact.
The theft occurred on December 28, 2024. After the complaint was made six days after the event, the investigators of the case began to analyze the security cameras located in the parking lot of SAAS, located in the 4th. Street and 6th. Avenida de la Zona 1 capital.
On January 3, 2025, at 4:49 p.m., a complaint about the theft of a Toyota Hiace Model 2014, with O-066BBX plates and circulation card number 202001554474 In the parking lot of SAAS.
Complaint number 03-2025 was filed by Enrique Cojoc Calel, hired in the private secretariat of the Vice Presidency as Professional III. According to his story to the PNC, on December 23, 2024, at about 4.25, he withdrew the microbus from the parking lot to cover a work commission in the department of Sacatepéquez and that same day he returned it.
However, on January 3, 2025, Brandon Lisandro Catalán Lara, hired in the Department of Transportation, wanted to get the vehicle out of the parking lot, but noticed that he was not in the place, so he immediately called Enrique Cojoc Calel, details the complaint.
The workers of the Vice Presidency consulted the SAAS security personnel for the missing minibus. The troops told them that, on December 28, 2024 at 5:45 p.m., a man withdrew the parking lot, but, according to the complaint, he is not a state worker.
The investigators said they identified the suspect, who is allegedly involved in a criminal structure dedicated to vehicle theft in the department of Guatemala. The alleged offender was captured two months later.
The arrest warrant was issued on February 27, 2025 by Neldy Vanessa Rodríguez Andrade, Fifth Pluripersonal Judge of the First Criminal Instance of Guatemala, and the next day Isaiah of Jesús Pérez Salazar, 30, was captured in sector 1 of the La Selvita settlement, zone 6 capital.
They detailed that Pérez Salazar is the alleged responsible for having participated in the theft of the vice presidency vehicle, in addition to being involved in other similar cases.
Used a shirt with government badges
The researchers said that Pérez Salazar arrived at the parking lot of SAAS dressed in a shirt that had government badges ”and headed to the place where the vehicle keys were.
He lit the panel with official 066BBX plates and left the parking lot. There was no control when the subject entered or when he left the vehicle, the researchers said.
They mentioned that the thief allegedly received help from a government employee, who provided him with garments with official badges, gave indications on how to enter the parking lot and informed him where the keys of the vehicles were.
“We did not find the vice presidency panel, because they reported the robbery almost a week later; they had not realized that it was no longer in the parking lot. The hypothesis we have is that it was dismantled and the parties were sold as spare parts in the black market,” they said.
Suspicious of theft has been captured in seven times
According to documents of the judicial agency, Pérez Salazar has been arrested seven times: the first on July 20, 2014 for the crime of its own cover -up; In 2023 he appeared three times before the Criminal Peace Court, and twice more in 2024. The last capture was on February 28, 2025 and in the first statement hearing a judge linked him to criminal proceedings, for the crimes of cover -up and falsification of plates and distinctions for vehicles and benefited it with house arrest.
The researchers said that Pérez Salazar is part of an organized crime band that steals vehicles, falsifies plates and documents for sale. They added that other facts are attributed.
In addition, they indicated that the case is in charge of the Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime of the Public Ministry (MP).
On February 28, the MP published on its social networks that the diligence against Pérez Salazar is aimed at counteracting the theft and theft of vehicles.
Pérez Salazar, a syndicated of the crime of aggravated robbery and indicated as alleged responsible for an event occurred on December 29, 2024 on Boulevard La Pedrera, zone 6, was also linked to the discovery of three vehicle plates with theft report, three counterfeit plaques for falsified circulation and leaves with die Falsification of badges, said the MP.
They commented that in another search, in zone 7, a laptop, two cell phones, a tablet and other valuables that are presumed were stolen from the victims were seized.
Various clothing were also kidnapped that constitute important indications for the development of research, said the MP.
The Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime explained that the case for the theft of the Vice Presidency vehicle is in charge, but it would be the MP Social Communication Department who would provide advances in the investigation; However, they did not answer the questions.
Deputy José Chic published a video on his social networks on April 16, in which he questioned a SAAS employee about the robbery of the panel.
Chic asked the secretariat employee where the vehicle was with official 0-66BBX plates.
“They took it out of here, yes, it really is. As it is not under the shelter of the SAAS,” the employee replied to the congressman.
The researchers said they identified the government employee who helped Pérez Salazar to steal the vehicle, but when they searched for it, it had already been dismissed.
SAAS confirms a capture for theft and dismisses four employees
The SAAS indicated that the investigations are in charge of the specialized division in criminal investigation of the PNC and the MP.
Details cannot be advanced because research would be hindered; However, the person who stole the vehicle has already been captured, the current administration of the Secretariat reported.
They added that, in this case, they dismissed four people. Free press and Guatevisión They found that those dismissed employees are pilots and mechanics of the SAAS.
The first of the actions was to strengthen security and personnel protocols. Absolutely all people entering any of the SAAS facilities must be fully identified, including areas such as workshop and supply, where theft occurred, the authorities of the Secretariat commented.
The Ministry of the Interior reported that the case advances under the direction of the MP and that, although it is a sensitive issue, there are positive results. However, they pointed out that they cannot give details so as not to hinder the investigation or the process.
The Department of Communication of the Vice Presidency indicated that there were no dismissals after the theft of the vehicle, since there is a complaint and is waiting for the results.
“There is still no MP information regarding the complaint raised and there is information that SAAS reinforced the entrance controls to the area where the vehicles are, commented.