According to official figures from the National Civil Police (PNC) published in the early hours of today, a total of 6,894 members of gang groups have been captured by the authorities in the last 11 days.
The police highlighted that only last Tuesday, April 5, they proceeded with the capture of 566 gang members throughout the country. In addition, the institution noted that of these last 11 days, 10 have been under the exception regime approved by the Legislative Assembly.
The President of the Republic, Nayib Bukele, also highlighted the arrests made by the police institution, with the support of the Armed Forces of El Salvador (FAES) and reiterated the commitment to combating crime in the country.
In the early morning, the president held a meeting with the Minister of Defense, René Francis Merino Monroy; the attorney general, Rodolfo Delgado; the Minister of Security, Gustavo Villatoro; and the director of the PNC, Mauricio Arriaza Chicas, to evaluate the actions that have been carried out these days.
Similarly, the officials and the president evaluated the actions to be taken after the Legislative Assembly yesterday approved some reforms to the Penal Code with which those who carry out graffiti alluding to gangs and the illegal elaboration and reproduction of messages alluding to gangs will be punished with jail time.
The reforms approved by the Legislature were to the Penal Code and the Law for the Prohibition of Maras, Gangs, Groups, Associations, and Organizations of a Criminal Nature. With them, sentences of between 10 to 15 years in prison are established for those who create or reproduce messages, signs, denominations, or propaganda alluding to gangs.