The Prosecutor’s Office against the Illicit migrant traffic dismantled a criminal structure dedicated to illegal trafficking in Guatemalans.
The operation, called “Sara” and carried out with support from the Specialized Division in Criminal Investigation of the National Civil Police, took place this Wednesday, April 30 in Malacatán, San Marcos, and in Morazán, El Progreso.
The Public Ministry reported that, as part of the action, investigators executed three orders for searching, inspection, registration and kidnapping of evidence in different properties of the mentioned municipalities.
In addition, five orders of apprehension against alleged members of the criminal organization for the crimes of illicit association, illegal traffic of Guatemalans continued, illegal traffic of Guatemalans with aggravation of the penalty and attack aggravation were turned.
According to the MP, the members of this criminal structure would be involved in the illegal transfer of Guatemalan citizens to the United States.
The authorities reported that the structure charged between Q130 thousand and Q200 thousand to each person to take it to US territory.
How they operated
The Operandi Modus included the issuance of false Mexican identity documents, used to mobilize migrants via air within Mexico.
Finally, they were taken to the borders of El Paso and Matamoros, from where they were facilitated by the irregular crossing towards the US, according to the MP.
The investigation originated from a complaint filed in Baja Verapaz, where it was reported that a woman was responsible for contacting and coordinating the transfer of people, the investigating entity added.
To read more: Migrants: Chronicle of a dream that begins and ends in the southern US.
“Unfortunately, one of the victims died in the desert of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, during his attempt to reach American territory,” said the Prosecutor’s Office.
The MP reports the apprehension of Cristhian “N”, leader of the criminal structure, and Honorio “N”, both syndicates of the crimes of illegal association and illegal traffic of Guatemalans.
Likewise, researchers kidnapped deposit ballots and cell phones, which will be useful in the present investigation.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the proceedings continue with the objective of collecting more indications that strengthen the “Sara” case and allow the complete disarticulation of “the criminal structure that puts the lives of hundreds of Guatemalans at risk”.