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Mara Salvatrucha: Reestablishes in the South Border Vying for Migrant Exploitation
Sunday, June 1, 2014 16:37
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Borderland Beat
Reforma is reporting the resurgence of Mara Salvatrucha cells at Mexico’s south border.
Beginning last year, members of these gangs began to relocate in the border towns, and the Chiapas coast.
Their goal is to regain control of the major migratory routes for extortion, kidnapping, rape, murder and assault of economic migrant. This was reported by the Special Prosecutor for Migrant Crimes of the Attorney General of Chiapas, Alejandro Vila.
“This is completely linked to the reactivation of the Beast train route.” In 2005, Hurricane Stan destroyed the railway that runs through Ciudad Hidalgo, forcing the train known as “La Bestia,” or “The Beast,” to seek an alternate route across the Guatemalan border.
Prior to the hurricane the train roof would be entirely covered with migrants, after the hurricane it dwindled to few, when the train stopped running through Hidalgo.
He mentioned that there have been clashes between cells for control in the municipalities of Mapastepec, Pijijiapan, Huixtla and Arriaga.
Authorities identified the establishment of cells Barrio 18 and MS-13 between the towns of Suchiate and Arriaga, transit Railroad route of “The Beast”.
The Consulate of Guatemala launched a campaign to warn of the risk and presence of this group that preys on the migrants.
Mexico does not include numbers of migrant killings, missing or kidnapped in their “official” calculations. It is estimated that upwards of 10,000 migrants vanish each year.
Last month, authorities in El Salvador, reported a strengthening of Mara, as they have expanded their organization and territory. An increase of weapons are evident and now include military type weapons. Authorities report the group has expanded their operation to include a heavier involvement in drug trafficking.
Source: http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2014/06/mara-salvatrucha-reestablishes-in-south.html
