20 Barrio 18 members escape Guatemala prison
Guatemala’s prison chief said Sunday that 20 members of Barrio 18 — a gang the U.S. designated a foreign terrorist organization last month — escaped the Fraijanes II facility southeast of Guatemala City after “evading security controls,” with an investigation into possible corruption underway. The U.S. Embassy condemned the breakout as “utterly unacceptable,” warned it will hold anyone aiding the fugitives accountable, and urged Guatemalan authorities to move swiftly to recapture the escapees.
International
Crime
National Security
📌 Key Facts
- Twenty Barrio 18 inmates escaped Fraijanes II prison, per director Ludin Godinez.
- U.S. Embassy in Guatemala called the escape “utterly unacceptable” and urged immediate recapture.
- Authorities are probing potential corruption behind the breakout; Guatemala cites ~12,000 gang members/collaborators nationwide.