Spanish police have arrested a suspected member of the Barrio 18 gang in Madrid, marking the second police operation against Salvadoran gangs in less than a month. The detainee is wanted by Salvadoran authorities for crimes including murder, kidnapping, and extortion. This arrest comes shortly after the capture of a member of the rival Mara Salvatrucha 13 gang at the Adolfo Suárez-Barajas Airport in March. The crackdown on gangs in El Salvador by President Nayib Bukele has caused many gang members to flee to neighboring countries and even to Europe. The Spanish police have a specialized group working to prevent the establishment of these criminal groups in Spain.
The recent operation leading to the arrest of the gang member began when Interpol issued a red notice at the request of Salvadoran authorities for crimes committed by the suspect between 2016 and 2018 when he was a minor. The fugitive was located working on a construction site in northern Madrid and was arrested by the authorities. The 25-year-old detainee, who arrived in Spain in 2018 and had an expired residence permit, denied belonging to Barrio 18 and claimed to have left his country because the gang had threatened him. The judge has ordered him to be held in prison pending extradition proceedings. Police are investigating whether the detainee had truly left the gang or was attempting to establish its presence in Madrid.
This arrest follows another incident in which a member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang was arrested in Madrid after arriving on a flight from Ecuador. The gang member is wanted in El Salvador for a double murder committed in 2022 for which he faces 84 years in prison. This arrest is part of ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of gang activity in Spain. Previous incidents involved the coordination and planning of crimes by members of these gangs, resulting in multiple arrests and convictions. The recent arrests in Madrid and Barcelona demonstrate the continued threat posed by these gangs and the efforts of law enforcement to address this issue.
In a separate incident in Barcelona, 15 individuals were arrested for attempting to establish a Barrio 18 franchise in the city. The operation involved the search of multiple locations where gang-related items, weapons, cash, and documents were found. These arrests highlight the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to prevent the expansion of gang activity in Spain. The complexity of gang operations and the international connections that allow them to establish networks in different countries make it challenging for authorities to address the issue effectively. The collaboration between different law enforcement agencies at national and international levels is crucial in combating this threat.
The presence of Salvadoran gangs in Spain is a growing concern, with incidents of violence and criminal activities attributed to these groups. The recent arrests of gang members in Madrid and Barcelona underscore the need for continued vigilance and law enforcement efforts to prevent the spread of gang activity in the country. The extradition proceedings for the arrested individuals will be closely monitored to ensure that they face justice for their crimes. The coordination between Spanish authorities and international organizations such as Interpol is essential in addressing the transnational aspect of gang operations and ensuring the safety of communities in Spain.
