President Nayib Bukele has confirmed the arrival of 238 members of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua to the Center for the Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT), as part of an agreement with the United States. These individuals will remain incarcerated in El Salvador for a renewable period of one year.
“The United States will pay a very low rate for them, but a high rate for us,” President Bukele stated on social media. He further explained that these actions, combined with the ongoing work of more than 40,000 inmates under the Ocio Cero program, will contribute to the self-sustainability of the Salvadoran prison system, which currently incurs an annual cost of $200 million.
In addition to this transfer, President Bukele announced that the United States has also sent 23 members of the MS-13 gang, including two leaders who were wanted by the Salvadoran justice system. One of these individuals is identified as a high-ranking figure within the criminal organization.
“This will help us finalize intelligence gathering and pursue the last remnants of MS-13, including its old and new members, money, weapons, drugs, hideouts, collaborators, and sponsors,” Bukele affirmed.
The Salvadoran leader reiterated his administration’s commitment to combating organized crime while also assisting allies and advancing national security. “We are achieving self-sufficiency in our prison system and obtaining vital information to make our country an even safer place. All in a single action,” he emphasized.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the transfer, stating that his administration had returned “two dangerous MS-13 leaders and 21 of its most wanted individuals back to El Salvador to face justice.” He also highlighted that over 200 members of Tren de Aragua were on the flight and praised El Salvador’s commitment to security.
“President @nayibbukele is a strong leader in regional security and a great friend of the United States,” Rubio remarked.
The initiative marks another step in El Salvador’s ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks and reinforce national security.