El Salvador Initiates Landmark Trial of 486 MS-13 Gang Leaders

Tue Apr 21 2026 16:41:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A mass trial of 486 individuals accused of leading the notorious MS-13 gang has commenced in El Salvador, highlighting the government's ongoing battle against organized crime.

El Salvador's attorney general's office has commenced a significant trial involving 486 alleged leaders of the MS-13 gang, who are collectively charged with over 47,000 crimes, including murder and extortion. The trial follows a surge in gang violence that claimed 87 lives in March 2022 and symbolizes the government's tough stance on crime amidst a state of emergency. Human rights groups have raised concerns regarding the methods used to detain suspects, highlighting a delicate balance between safety and civil rights.

A mass trial of 486 suspected MS-13 gang leaders has begun in El Salvador, the country's attorney general's office has announced.

The group is collectively accused of committing more than 47,000 crimes, including murder, extortion, drug, and arms trafficking, between 2012 and 2022.

Among those on trial are individuals alleged to have been involved in a wave of gang violence in March 2022, which saw 87 people killed in one weekend. This violence prompted President Nayib Bukele to declare a war on gangs.

The attorney general's office has not specified the duration of the trial, but insists it possesses compelling evidence that would facilitate maximum penalties against those found guilty.

MS-13 is a transnational gang that was designated as a terrorist organization by the US last year. Founded in Los Angeles during the 1980s by immigrants fleeing El Salvador's civil war, its influence has since expanded across Central America.

The attorney general's office stated, For years, this structure has operated systematically, instilling fear and grief in Salvadoran families. The charges against the 486 suspects include femicide and disappearances, which have significantly impacted the country's socio-economic development. Moreover, the suspects are charged with rebellion for attempting to maintain territorial control to establish a parallel state.

Of the suspects, 413 are currently in custody, while arrest warrants have been issued for 73 others being prosecuted in absentia.

El Salvador's National Civil Police have developed research and monitoring initiatives to locate, capture, and document the criminal activity of the suspects. A controversial state of emergency, which expanded powers to arrest alleged gang members and suspended certain constitutional rights, has been in place since March 2022, leading to the arrest of tens of thousands of suspected gang members. However, human rights groups argue this has resulted in arbitrary detentions.

Recent legal reforms in the country have facilitated mass trials, increasing the scale of judicial responses to gang violence.