MS13 Gang Member Arrested at Western Border

A high-risk member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS13) has been captured at the offices of the Guatemalan Migration Institute in Melchor de Mencos, Petén. INTERPOL officers, working closely with Belizean immigration authorities, carried out a coordinated operation that led to the arrest of Julio César Murillo Mena, a Salvadoran national wanted for serious crimes in his home country.

Authorities confirmed that Murillo Mena is sought in El Salvador for homicide and for possession, carrying, or driving of firearms. These charges carry sentences of 4 to 15 years.

MS-13 is one of the most violent and notorious transnational gangs in the Americas.

The group’s origins trace back to the aftermath of El Salvador’s brutal civil war. According to the United States Department of Justice, children as young as 11 and 12 were recruited and trained as soldiers during the conflict, which left the country devastated and displaced nearly one million Salvadorans.

The gang grew rapidly and became infamous for its violent culture, its strict internal codes, and its use of graphic symbols to mark territory and allegiance.

Over time, MS 13 expanded its influence through criminal activities that include extortion, drug distribution, human smuggling, and contract killings.