In a groundbreaking mass trial, close to 500 individuals purportedly linked to the infamous Mara Salvatrucha gang, also known as MS-13, made virtual court appearances via video conferencing from a state-of-the-art high-security prison. Prosecutors in El Salvador have attributed a staggering 47,000 criminal activities, including 29,000 murders, to this notorious gang between 2012 and 2022.
The defendants, accused of attempting to establish a “parallel state,” were seen remotely from the highly secure Counter-Terrorism Confinement Center. The Attorney General’s Office has levied these serious allegations against the alleged members of the Mara Salvatrucha group.
During the remote court session, around 490 defendants, including key figures within the organization, collectively faced trial. The accused individuals observed the proceedings through video links from the technologically advanced Counter-Terrorism Confinement Center, located in Tecoluca, El Salvador.