El Salvador began a mass trial Monday for 486 alleged members of the powerful Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, accused of involvement in tens of thousands of crimes, including thousands of homicides between 2012 and 2022. The court proceedings encompass alleged national and street-level leaders, as well as founders of the organization.
Authorities accuse the group of numerous offenses, notably a spree of 87 killings in March 2022, which prompted President Nayib Bukele to declare a "war" on gangs. This crackdown, initiated under a state of emergency, has led to over 91,000 arrests, dramatically reducing crime rates and transforming El Salvador into one of Latin America's safest nations.
However, the campaign has drawn criticism from rights groups citing potential human rights abuses, lack of due process, and deaths in prison. Mass trials are reportedly using anonymous judges and delivering one-size-fits-all sentences via video link. MS-13, alongside the rival Barrio 18 gang, is known for drug trafficking and extortion across Central America. Both groups originated from Salvadoran youth in Los Angeles before spreading back to El Salvador, where they have operated for over three decades.