Guatemala's security apparatus under scrutiny following prison escape of gang members

The recent escape of twenty gang members from a Guatemalan prison has sent shockwaves through the country’s security establishment, prompting the resignation of several top officials.

All the escapees were members of the notorious Barrio 18 gang, which the United States recently designated as a terrorist organization at the request of the Guatemalan government, CBS News reported.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo accepted the resignations of three senior security officials on October 15 in the aftermath of the mass breakout. Those stepping down include Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez, along with his two deputies — one responsible for drug enforcement and the other overseeing the prison system.

According to media reports, the gang members are believed to have fled the Fraijanes II facility over the course of several days. However, the escape went unnoticed until a prisoner recount was conducted, with the prison chief officially confirming the incident on October 12.

Barrio 18, an El Salvador-based criminal organisation, is infamous for its brutality, extortion rackets, and involvement in drug trafficking. Outgoing Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez noted that “there are about 12,000 gang members and collaborators in Guatemala, while another 3,000 are in prison.”

In a statement announcing Barrio 18’s designation as a foreign terrorist group, the U.S. State Department described it as “one of the largest gangs in the Northern Hemisphere.”

According to the Associated Press, the gang originated in Los Angeles, founded by young Salvadoran immigrants, and later spread across Central America after many members were deported from the United States. Today, Barrio 18 maintains a powerful presence in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, where it continues to instil fear in local communities.

By Nazrin Sadigova