Guatemala: Prison Riots Erupt Among Gang Members

Gang members rioted in Guatemalan prisons on Saturday, protesting the transfer of their leaders to a maximum-security detention center. Authorities reported that the riots began last year.

In 2025, authorities transferred leaders of the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs, designated as "terrorist" organizations by both the US and Guatemala, to solitary confinement, sparking backlash.

The Interior Ministry stated that it would not negotiate with "terrorists" and that police and armed forces are operating to restore order.

The fire department dispatched units to three prisons due to "disturbances of order." One of these was Renovación I, where gang leaders are held.

The Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs clash for control of territories in Guatemala, where they extort citizens, resulting in murders, extortion, and drug trafficking.

Source: ΑΠΕ ΜΠΕ