May 1 |

In addition to providing security to the population and putting criminals behind bars, the security fences implemented in El Salvador, specifically in Soyapango, Tutunichapa and La Granjita as phase 5 of the Territorial Control Plan (PCT), have prevented gangs from regrouping, according to Defense Minister René Merino Monroy.

“Through the military fences we have prevented the gangs from regrouping and thus guaranteeing the security of the population. Now we have given the population peace of mind, so that they can move around in peace,” said Merino Monroy.

The security fences are part of the PCT’s “Extraction” phase, which was launched in November of last year and aims to remove all gang members who continue to commit crimes in neighborhoods and colonias. The authorities carried out the same type of siege that was implemented in Comasagua, La Libertad, last year, where 2,000 soldiers and police were deployed in search of the murderers of a farm caretaker who was a victim of extortion. For the time being, these fences remain permanent in Soyapango and the communities of Tutunichapa and La Granjita in San Salvador.

“This phase has two elements, one is the extraction and the other is, based on what has been learned during the regime, to fence off large areas while the gang members are being extracted,” said the President of the Republic, Nayib Bukele during the launch of this phase.

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In December 2022, a contingent of 8,500 soldiers and 1,500 police officers were deployed in Soyapango to encircle the entire municipality. The Minister of Defense has detailed that so far more than 1,400 gang members have been captured in this area alone and this has led to a drastic reduction in homicides in the area. In addition, the authorities have recovered more than 1,000 homes that were usurped by gangs in neighborhoods such as La Campanera, Monte Blanco, Las Margaritas and the 22 de Abril community, among others, considered highly dangerous in Soyapango.

La Tutunichapa and La Granjita were also surrounded in December last year. More than 1,000 soldiers and 100 police were distributed in both communities in search of gang members. The presence of the security forces has led to a decrease in crime, including drug trafficking, as these areas were characterized by the retail sale of narcotics. To date there have been more than 350 arrests in both communities, according to the police; in addition, drug trafficking has been hit hard. In just the first two weeks after the fences were implemented, more than seven kilos of drugs, including cocaine, marijuana and crack, had been seized.

The security that now exists in these two communities has changed the lives of the inhabitants. New businesses have been established in the areas and institutions such as the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), the Ministry of Health, the Social Housing Fund, the Mortgage Bank and the Consumer Protection Agency have come forward to offer their services to the inhabitants. Even the Ministry of Agriculture has been holding “agromarkets”.

The implementation of the security fences together with the execution of the exception regime has allowed that in the last year the gangs have been dismantled, capturing more than 68,000 gang members, among them leaders and collaborators, in addition, 3,571 vehicles, 2,698 firearms and 16,437 cell phones have been seized from these structures.

These measures, which are focused on curbing criminal activity, have been viewed positively by the Salvadoran population. The security forces, deployed by the emergency regime and as part of the PCT, have been supported by Salvadorans. Providing food, giving a place to rest and verbally expressing gratitude are some of the actions with which the population expresses the work of soldiers and police.

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