CBS News

MS-13 gang member sentenced to 1,335 years in prison, others given hundreds of years in El Salvador

FGR_SV

Diario El Mundo

Condenan a 242 pandilleros incluyendo los asesinos de hermanos Guerrero-Toledo

Diario La Huella

Histrico golpe a la MS: Tribunal condena hasta 1,393 aos de prisin a 242 pandilleros

La Prensa Gráfica

Condenan a 75 años de cárcel a pandilleros de la MS-13 por el asesinato de la futbolista salvadoreña Jimena Granados

Infobae

La Justicia de El Salvador conden a 248 pandilleros de la Mara Salvatrucha a penas de hasta 1.335 aos de prisin

El Diario de Hoy

Hasta 1,393 aos de crcel para pandilleros de la MS por ms de 200 crmenes

France24.com

20251221 Gang Members Given Hundred Years Long Sentences In El Salvador

CSIS

Tough on the Weak, Lenient on the Powerful

Responsible Statecraft

Bukele's dirty secret: He made deals with the worst gangs

Colombia One

Bukeles Hardline Security Model: El Salvador Hands Gang Members Sentences of Nearly 400 Years

InSight Crime

Too Many Soldiers: How Bukeles Crackdown Succeeded Where Others Failed

BBC News

MS-13 gang: The story behind one of the world's most brutal street gangs

Trump State Department

Designation of International Cartels

Metaculus

Will Bukele rule for life?

The Economist

Ernesto Castro

Rodrigo Pacheco

Thiago Sussekind

Michael Paarlberg

Alfons Lopez Tena

Paolo Luers


Andres Pertierra

Hector Silva

Kenneth Roth

The Washington Post

"El Salvador scraps term limits, paving way for far-right dictator Bukele to seek re-election and rule for life."

"Bukele's transformation into indefinite lord and master of El Salvador appears to be complete."

"Nayib Bukele can now stay in power forever if he pleases."

"Aged just 44, he could rule El Salvador's 6.3m people for decades."

"Nayib Bukele—the darling dictator of the Latin right—can now govern forever."

Will Nayib Bukele Rule El Salvador for Life?

The Attorney General's office of El Salvador announced that 248 members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang received sentences for crimes including 43 homicides and 42 disappearances committed between 2014 and 2022 in La Libertad department.

The Attorney General's office of El Salvador announced that 248 members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang received sentences for crimes including 43 homicides and 42 disappearances committed between 2014 and 2022 in La Libertad department.

Marvin Abel Hernández Palacios received a sentence of 1,335 years in prison, while 10 other gang members received terms ranging from 463 to 958 years. The convicted individuals were found guilty of crimes including homicide, extortion and disappearances.

Marvin Abel Hernández Palacios received a sentence of 1,335 years in prison, while 10 other gang members received terms ranging from 463 to 958 years. The convicted individuals were found guilty of crimes including homicide, extortion and disappearances.

Since March 2022, President Nayib Bukele has implemented a state of emergency allowing arrests without warrants. More than 90,000 people have been detained under this measure, with approximately 8,000 released after being found not guilty.

Since March 2022, President Nayib Bukele has implemented a state of emergency allowing arrests without warrants. More than 90,000 people have been detained under this measure, with approximately 8,000 released after being found not guilty.

The Salvadoran government states that MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs are responsible for approximately 200,000 deaths over three decades. The two gangs once controlled an estimated 80 percent of the country.

The Salvadoran government states that MS-13 and Barrio 18 gangs are responsible for approximately 200,000 deaths over three decades. The two gangs once controlled an estimated 80 percent of the country.

Among the crimes prosecuted were the December 2021 disappearance and homicide of siblings Karen and Eduardo Guerrero Toledo, and the October 2021 feminicide of footballer Claudia Jimena Granados. Bodies were recovered from clandestine graves in Nuevo Cuscatlán.

Fiscalía General de la República El Salvador

Among the crimes prosecuted were the December 2021 disappearance and homicide of siblings Karen and Eduardo Guerrero Toledo, and the October 2021 feminicide of footballer Claudia Jimena Granados. Bodies were recovered from clandestine graves in Nuevo Cuscatlán.

The gangs extorted business owners by demanding money in exchange for not harming them, forcing some to close their operations due to threats. Gang members also engaged in drug trafficking and illegal occupation of properties throughout La Libertad.

The gangs extorted business owners by demanding money in exchange for not harming them, forcing some to close their operations due to threats. Gang members also engaged in drug trafficking and illegal occupation of properties throughout La Libertad.

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Responsible Statecraft #

Colombia One #

InSight Crime #

BBC News #

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Metaculus #

El Salvador's extreme sentencing proves the government is finally matching judicial toughness with security enforcement, permanently removing violent gang members from society and ensuring they never terrorize communities again. Homicides have plummeted to historic lows, extortion rackets have collapsed, and neighborhoods once dominated by MS-13 and Barrio 18 are now safe for the first time in decades.

El Salvador's extreme sentencing proves the government is finally matching judicial toughness with security enforcement, permanently removing violent gang members from society and ensuring they never terrorize communities again. Homicides have plummeted to historic lows, extortion rackets have collapsed, and neighborhoods once dominated by MS-13 and Barrio 18 are now safe for the first time in decades.

Bukele's security gains stem from secret pacts with gang leaders, not from defeating them, allowing criminal networks to operate from prisons while drug trafficking continues unabated. The crackdown has destroyed democracy, suspended constitutional rights, and resulted in over 400 extrajudicial deaths, with thousands of innocents jailed without trial while the real kingpins receive special privileges.

Bukele's security gains stem from secret pacts with gang leaders, not from defeating them, allowing criminal networks to operate from prisons while drug trafficking continues unabated. The crackdown has destroyed democracy, suspended constitutional rights, and resulted in over 400 extrajudicial deaths, with thousands of innocents jailed without trial while the real kingpins receive special privileges.

248 MS-13 Gang Members Sentenced in El Salvador

Crime & justice

El Salvador

Extreme sentences totaling nearly 400 years send an unmistakable message that violent gang members will never again terrorize Salvadoran communities. These punishments ensure permanent incapacitation of terrorists who held entire neighborhoods hostage for decades, finally matching judicial severity with the toughness needed to dismantle criminal networks. Homicides have plummeted to historic lows, proving that maximum punitive force works when traditional reforms failed.

Extreme sentences totaling nearly 400 years send an unmistakable message that violent gang members will never again terrorize Salvadoran communities. These punishments ensure permanent incapacitation of terrorists who held entire neighborhoods hostage for decades, finally matching judicial severity with the toughness needed to dismantle criminal networks. Homicides have plummeted to historic lows, proving that maximum punitive force works when traditional reforms failed.

Lengthy sentences mask the reality that gang leaders remain untouched through secret deals with the Bukele administration dating back to 2019. Prison intelligence and government documents reveal direct negotiations between officials and MS-13 and Barrio 18 leaders, offering financial incentives and prison perks in exchange for reduced violence. Drug flows continue increasing while kingpins get privileges as thousands of innocents rot in jail without trials.

Lengthy sentences mask the reality that gang leaders remain untouched through secret deals with the Bukele administration dating back to 2019. Prison intelligence and government documents reveal direct negotiations between officials and MS-13 and Barrio 18 leaders, offering financial incentives and prison perks in exchange for reduced violence. Drug flows continue increasing while kingpins get privileges as thousands of innocents rot in jail without trials.

248 MS-13 Gang Members Sentenced in El Salvador

248 MS-13 Gang Members Sentenced in El Salvador

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248 MS-13 Gang Members Sentenced in El Salvador

248 MS-13 Gang Members Sentenced in El Salvador

The Spin

The Controversies

Tena

Pertierra

Silva

Economist

Sussekind

Articles on this story

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