El Salvador Prosecutes 486 MS-13 Leaders for 47,000 Crimes in March 2022 Violence Crackdown
El Salvador has commenced a mass trial targeting 486 individuals alleged to be leaders within the notorious MS-13 gang. These defendants are accused of orchestrating approximately 47,000 crimes, a figure that includes a significant number of murders attributed to a period of intense violence in March 2022.
The Attorney General's office has released footage depicting large groups of the accused participating in the judicial proceedings remotely. The images show men, presumably incarcerated, attending their trial via video link, underscoring the scale of the operation.
This prosecution forms part of President Nayib Bukele's controversial crackdown on gang activity, which has seen tens of thousands of individuals detained under emergency powers. Critics have highlighted widespread concerns regarding human rights abuses and due process within the framework of these sweeping measures. The government maintains the actions are necessary to dismantle criminal organisations and restore public order.
