El Salvador Launches Massive Operation to Target Gangs

El Salvador deployed over 4,000 security forces to three communities near the capital, aiming to eliminate gang activity on Wednesday. President Nayib Bukele is seeking an extension of emergency powers to fight crime.

In a video message, President Bukele announced the early morning operation. Soldiers and police surrounded the heavily populated areas of Popotlan, Valle Verde, and La Campanera outside San Salvador.

Bukele declared, "We won't stop until we capture the last remaining terrorists," referring to suspected gang members involved in drug trafficking, protection rackets, and extortion. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the hard-earned peace.

The president has been using emergency powers granted in response to a surge in gang violence in March 2022 to launch a full-scale offensive against powerful street gangs. Over 72,000 alleged gang members or associates have been imprisoned.

This crackdown has enabled Salvadoran communities once dominated by gangs to regain a sense of normalcy in public spaces. However, critics argue that the arrests lack due process and have inadvertently affected innocent people. The emergency powers temporarily suspend certain constitutional rights, including the right to be informed about the reason for arrest and access to legal counsel.

Despite international criticism from human rights organizations and foreign governments, these security measures remain popular among Salvadorans.

In recent times, security forces have carried out similar operations, typically establishing checkpoints at community entrances to question drivers and inspect vehicles, while others conduct house-to-house searches for gang members.

La Campanera, previously known as one of the nation's most violent areas, had been under the control of the Barrio 18 gang for years. In December 2022, more than 10,000 security personnel entered La Campanera and neighboring communities in the Soyapango municipality to apprehend gang members.