A mass trial of 486 suspected MS-13 gang leaders has begun in El Salvador, according to the country's attorney general's office.
The group is collectively accused of committing more than 47,000 crimes, including murder, extortion, and drug and arms trafficking, between 2012 and 2022.
Among those on trial are individuals alleged to have been involved in a wave of gang violence in March 2022, which saw 87 people killed in one weekend, leading President Nayib Bukele to declare a war on gangs.
The attorney general's office did not disclose the trial's length but assured that it possesses compelling evidence to impose maximum penalties on those found guilty.
MS-13 is a transnational gang designated as a terrorist organization by the US last year, founded in Los Angeles during the 1980s by immigrants escaping El Salvador's civil war; its influence has since expanded across Central America.
The attorney's office stated, For years, this structure has operated systematically, instilling fear and grief in Salvadoran families. The crimes also include femicide and disappearances, significantly impacting the nation’s progress.
The accused are charged with rebellion for attempting to maintain territorial control to establish a parallel state. Currently, 413 suspects are in custody, and 73 others are being prosecuted in absentia.
El Salvador's National Civil Police have enhanced monitoring efforts to locate and document the activities of gang suspects.
A controversial state of emergency, expanding powers to arrest suspected gang affiliates and suspending constitutional rights, has been active since March 2022. Critics argue it has led to numerous arbitrary detentions.
Legal reforms in El Salvador now facilitate mass trials, a pivotal development in its approach to organized crime.
