Escape of Barrio 18 Members in Guatemala
Over the weekend, twenty members of the Barrio 18 gang managed to escape from a high-security facility in Guatemala, prompting a swift response from U.S. authorities to ensure their recapture.
The inmates, recognized as terrorists by the U.S., escaped from the Fraijanes II Prison near Guatemala City by circumventing security measures, as stated by prison warden Rudin Godinez on Sunday. This gang was labeled a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration back in September.
Godinez mentioned that he had received an “intelligence report” prior to the incident, hinting at a potential escape. Following this, a corruption investigation targeting prison officials has been initiated, raising suspicions of possible inside assistance.
Reacting to the escape, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala described it as “totally unacceptable” through a post on X, warning that anyone who aided the escapees would face consequences.
The embassy also emphasized that those who provide, or have provided, any support to these fugitives will be held responsible for their actions.
U.S. officials are urging Guatemalan authorities to “act immediately and vigorously” to take the escapees back into custody. Barrio 18 is known as one of the largest criminal organizations in the northern hemisphere, operating across Central America and connected to the rival MS-13 gang. Reports from the Salvadoran government estimate that this group has been responsible for approximately 200,000 deaths over the past three decades.
Currently, there are around 3,000 people incarcerated in Guatemala, while another 12,000 remain active members of the gang throughout the country, according to Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez. He has projected that the homicide rate could escalate to 17.65 per 100,000 residents by 2025, significantly exceeding the global average.
Throughout their term, the Trump administration has identified over a dozen foreign terrorist organizations, employing this designation as a tool to combat drug cartel operations and other maritime threats.
