Central America

FGR explained the process by which the Salvadoran State has been defrauded by more than $2 million

The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) reported that they had arrested five people for defrauding the Salvadoran state by more than $2 million. According to the investigations, two former Ministers of Defense made it easier for Centrum S.A. de C.V. to acquire weapons, some of which were in good condition, and to hand over old weapons in exchange.

The FGR accused former Ministers of Defense David Munguía Payés and Atilio Benítez; former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Rafael Melara Rivera; Coronel Manuel de Jesús Romero; Centrum’s legal representative Gustavo López Davidson; and Centrum’s manager, Héctor Abel Herrera Mejía. Of the six, five were arrested last Friday afternoon.

According to the authorities, it all started in 2011. The Ministry of Defense, led by David Munguía Payés, requested a review of obsolete weapons to make an auction-type swap. The FGR states that when the process was announced, six companies attended; but in five of them, Héctor Abel Herrera appeared as the legal representative.

Afterwards, Herrera remained as the representative of Centrum. The rest of the companies appointed new representatives, who were employees of Centrum. In the end, the swap was awarded to Eagle Ordnance LLC and Centrum. Herrera subsequently notified the Ministry of Defense that Eagle would not continue in the process and that Centrum would take over the swap.

According to the FGR, General Rafael Melara, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, warned that a new process should be called, but the warning was omitted.

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Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.