Guatemalan Police Deploy Emergency Powers in Major Gang Crackdown
Guatemalan security forces have begun exercising new powers granted under a state of emergency, launching a direct confrontation against the Barrio 18 gang in a high-crime area of the capital. This decisive action comes just days after suspected gang members killed ten police officers in a series of coordinated attacks.
Operation in Zone 18
On Tuesday, dozens of police officers and soldiers, many armed with rifles and wearing protective gear, patrolled the narrow streets of Zone 18 in northern Guatemala City. At checkpoints, they stopped motorists to request identification and conducted pat-down searches for weapons. Zone 18 recorded 126 homicides last year, the highest of any district in the capital, and police describe it as a "red zone" dominated by gang activity.
The urgency of the operation was underscored early Tuesday when the bodies of three females, including two teenagers and one pregnant woman, were found shot in the street. Jorge Aguilar, National Civil Police spokesman, stated, "This state of emergency is focused on head-on confrontation with the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha criminal structures."
State of Emergency Declared
President Bernardo Arévalo declared a 30-day state of emergency on Sunday, which Congress overwhelmingly approved on Monday. The measure restricts certain rights of movement and assembly and allows police to detain individuals suspected of gang activity without a judicial arrest order. This move follows a weekend of violence where gang members rioted in three prisons, taking guards hostage, and police around the capital were subsequently attacked.
So far, ten police officers have died in these incidents, with several others hospitalised. Arévalo has been under pressure to control the violence, which saw Guatemala's homicide rate rise to 17.2 per 100,000 residents last year, up from 16.5 the previous year, according to data from the NGO Dialogues.
Community Impact and Stigma
In Zone 18, many residents declined to speak about the gang presence, reflecting the climate of fear. Diana González, a 34-year-old cleaner who has lived in the area for 15 years, acknowledged the danger but said, "it's where I have to live." She noted that while she hasn't had personal problems with gangs, the area carries a stigma that affects employment opportunities. "When I have looked for work people don't hire me because I live in this zone," González explained. "They think that if you live here you're a gangster, it marks all of us."
Broader Context and Regional Comparisons
Last year, Guatemala's Congress approved a new anti-gang law designating Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha as terrorist groups, increasing prison sentences for convicted gang members. This legislation followed the escape of 20 Barrio 18 members from prison and the resignations of three top security officials. The United States government has also designated both gangs as foreign terrorist organizations.
The state of emergency strategy mirrors that used by President Nayib Bukele in neighbouring El Salvador, where over 90,000 people have been detained on suspicion of gang ties in nearly four years. However, Bukele's administration has faced international criticism for alleged human rights violations and lack of due process.
Arévalo has accused "political criminal mafias" of trying to destabilise his administration, highlighting the complex political and security challenges facing Guatemala. As police and soldiers continue their patrols, including on a dusty soccer pitch where children played amidst the security presence, the effectiveness and implications of these emergency measures remain under close scrutiny.
