Calay News
Hundreds of suspected members of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), a criminal gang known for its violence and organized crime, are estimated to be currently in Mexico. While their presence in Mexico is not new, it has been little known as Mexican authorities have prioritized the fight against the big drug cartels. MS-13 has been in the country since the beginning of this century and has established one of its most ambitious projects, the Mexico Program, to extend its power beyond El Salvador. This program has allowed MS-13 to ally with drug cartels to traffic drugs and control migrant routes, such as the notorious “La Bestia” freight train.
Border surveillance has been heightened in places such as Guatemala, Honduras, and southern Mexico due to the flight of suspected gang members from El Salvador due to the massive arrests during the emergency rule that has been in place in their country for nearly a year. However, the presence of MS-13 in Mexico is more significant than has been believed, as evidenced by the indictment on organized crime and terrorism charges unveiled by the United States in late February. This indictment involved 13 top MS-13 leaders, three of whom were arrested on Mexican soil.
Despite this, the presence of MS-13 in Mexico remains little known, and Mexican authorities have focused their fight against organized crime on the large drug cartels. MS-13 has managed to establish itself in Mexico and ally with other criminal groups to expand its power and increase its presence in the country.
