El Salvador Initiates Mass Trial for Nearly 500 Accused Gang Leaders, Reports Reuters

El Salvador has initiated a significant trial aimed at prosecuting nearly 500 alleged leaders of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, who are linked to over 37,000 crimes committed over the past decade, according to the prosecutor’s office in the Central American nation.

The defendants include 24 high-ranking MS-13 members, some of whom face extradition requests from the United States. They are charged with serious offenses, including aggravated homicide, kidnapping, and arms trafficking.

The prosecutor’s office stated, “Each crime committed by gang members had to be ordered by the ringleaders. We will ensure that these criminals are held accountable for the suffering they have caused Salvadorans for decades.”

The trial is being conducted virtually since the defendants are held in various prisons. Some have been incarcerated for years, while others were apprehended during a state of emergency declared in March 2022.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has prioritized a crackdown on crime as a key element of his administration. He was re-elected recently in a landslide victory, reflecting the ongoing popularity of his policies, despite concerns from human rights organizations regarding potential violations during the detention of around 76,000 individuals, often without due process.

In January, Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro noted that the mass hearing will focus exclusively on the alleged leaders of the gang, excluding lower-ranking members.