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Eugene

(62,687 posts)
Sat Jul 30, 2016, 04:27 AM Jul 2016

El Salvador police arrest 77 in high-profile raids against powerful MS13 gang

Source: The Guardian

El Salvador police arrest 77 in high-profile raids against powerful MS13 gang

Police and prosecutors announced a series of raids Thursday
against alleged leaders and business associates of MS13 and
their multi-million dollar network


Nina Lakhani in Mexico City
Friday 29 July 2016 18.47 BST

A multi-million dollar network of businesses created by leaders of El Salvador’s most powerful street gang has been exposed by authorities as part of a investigation targeting the groups’ finances.

Police and prosecutors announced a series of high-profile raids on Thursday against alleged leaders and business associates of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS13) gang, claiming to have delivered a severe blow to the group’s financial operations.

Five MS-13 leaders – including the gang’s alleged “CEO”, who posed as an evangelical preacher – were among 77 people arrested across the country after a year-long investigation known as Operation Checkmate.

Police seized weapons, cash and vehicles during raids at motels, brothels, bars, car dealerships and bus and taxi firms – businesses they claim were created using illicit funds, mainly from extortion rackets.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/29/el-salvador-police-arrest-77-raids-powerful-ms13-gang

LBN thread: El Salvador says a brutal gang laundered money through motels, brothels, taxis
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