El Salvador Launches Mass Trial Against 486 MS-13 Alleged Leaders

El Salvador has initiated a large-scale prosecution of 486 suspected MS-13 gang leaders, according to the attorney general’s office. The accused are collectively charged with over 47,000 crimes, including murder, extortion, and drug trafficking, spanning from 2012 to 2022.

Among those facing trial are individuals linked to the 2022 gang violence that killed 87 people in a single weekend. This event prompted President Nayib Bukele to declare a “war on gangs,” aiming to curb the organization’s influence.

“We have compelling evidence that will allow us to impose maximum penalties on those found guilty,” stated the attorney general’s office, though it did not specify the trial’s duration.

MS-13, a transnational gang network, was designated a terrorist organization by the US last year. Originally formed in Los Angeles during the 1980s by Salvadoran immigrants fleeing civil war, its operations now dominate Central America.

The charges also encompass femicide, forced disappearances, and rebellion for attempting to maintain territorial control to establish a parallel state. The attorney general’s office emphasized that these actions have instilled fear in Salvadoran families and hindered the nation’s progress.

Of the 486 accused, 413 are currently detained, while 73 others face arrest warrants and are being prosecuted in absentia. The National Civil Police highlighted their efforts to locate, capture, and document the criminal activity of the suspects through research and surveillance.

A contentious emergency decree, enacted in March 2022, expanded powers to arrest gang affiliates and suspended certain constitutional rights. While it has resulted in thousands of arrests, human rights groups argue the measure has enabled arbitrary detentions.

Legal reforms in the country have also facilitated the conduct of mass trials, allowing the government to address the gang’s systemic impact on society and the economy.