The Minister of Public Works and Transportation, Romeo Herrera, alongside the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), held a press conference at the Plaza SOHO branch of the Vice Ministry of Transportation (VMT) to unveil a widespread corruption network. This scheme involved driving schools, testing companies, and VMT employees who engaged in illegal activities to profit from the issuance of driver’s licenses.
Following reports from the Ministry of Public Works and the VMT, the FGR launched an investigation that revealed the operation’s scale. Through coordinated efforts with the National Civil Police (PNC) and the use of specialized investigative techniques, authorities determined that the network operated around SERTRACEN facilities in San Miguel. The corrupt entities offered to alter failed driving test results for prices ranging from $800 to $1,000, allowing individuals to bypass the legal requirements for obtaining a driver’s license.
Shockingly, some beneficiaries of these services did not undergo any examinations and, in certain cases, could neither read nor write. Officials warned that this malpractice endangered public safety by granting driving privileges to unqualified individuals.
“The government of President Nayib Bukele is working to clean house and eradicate corruption wherever it may be,” Minister Herrera stated. “We’ve identified that many people paid testing companies or driving schools to obtain their licenses without taking any tests.”
Herrera underscored the grave consequences of the fraudulent scheme, noting, “Several traffic accidents, some resulting in fatalities, have been linked to these fraudulent processes. We aim to prevent further tragedies by addressing the issue at its root—starting with the driving schools and licensing procedures.”
Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado echoed this sentiment on his social media account, declaring, “The fight against corruption will be as relentless as the fight against gangs. We are committed to cleansing the country, not only from the terror imposed by gangs but also from the underdevelopment caused by corrupt individuals. Those guilty should prepare to see familiar faces, including friends, relatives, and alleged political persecutors, behind bars. This is a direct, unwavering battle.”
The operation was carried out simultaneously at VMT facilities in San Miguel and San Salvador. In eastern El Salvador, authorities arrested several VMT employees linked to the scheme:
• Bladimir Amadeo Sánchez Márquez
• Jeymy Guadalupe García Cruz
• Milagro del Carmen Guevara Navas
• Carlos Alberto Sorto Lemus
• Catalino de la Cruz Castro Castro (security guard)
• Irma Yanira Vásquez
Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding Salvadorans by ensuring transparency and accountability in public institutions.