This week, the National Civil Police (PNC) of El Salvador captured a teenager identified as Mario José Castellanos Pérez, who was detained after posting photos and videos on social media making gang-related hand signs.
On his phone, authorities found clear evidence of his connection to these criminal groups, where he even boasted about his affiliation with these criminal structures.
What some might say:
There will be those who try to justify it with phrases like: “He’s just a kid”, “It’s teenage stuff” or “He didn’t know what he was doing”. But in El Salvador, no one with living memory can afford that luxury.
Here’s the reality:
Gangs in our country are not “child’s play.” From the first half of the 1990s until the implementation of the state of emergency, these criminal groups have been responsible for:
- More than 100,000 Salvadorans murdered
- Families destroyed by extortion, violence, and terror
- Entire communities controlled by fear
- Generations lost in cycles of forced recruitment
Do you think a teenager making gang signs is “innocent”?
Gangs don’t distinguish ages when they recruit, threaten, or murder. Those “innocent signs” are the gateway to a world where:
- A “game” becomes a crime
- “Showing off” on social media normalizes violence
- A “kid” today could be a hitman tomorrow
CRITICAL LEGAL INFORMATION:
Under Salvadoran law:
- Gangs are legally classified as terrorist organizations
- Simply belonging to a gang is a crime punishable by 20-30 years in prison (even without committing any other crime)
- Gang leaders face up to 45 years in prison
In El Salvador, there is ZERO TOLERANCE, and this includes:
- The few remaining gang members hiding in the streets: No matter how hidden they are, authorities track and capture them.
- Teenagers and/or students who, as a “game” or “joke,” try to create or organize a gang: Acting like a gang member, even as a joke, has serious legal consequences. There’s no room for normalizing violence.
- Gang members who think they’re clever and come to El Salvador to organize a new gang: Any attempt to infiltrate or reorganize criminal groups will be met with the full force of the law.
The state of emergency changed the rules
Thanks to this measure, tens of thousands of gang members already registered in police databases were captured. The lesson? In El Salvador, the law doesn’t ask your age or intention when:
- You make gang signs
- You boast about belonging to criminal groups
- You try to recruit, organize, or even “play” at being a gang member
The message is clear and forceful:
In our country, being a gang member or promoting gangs is a serious crime. It doesn’t matter if you’re a teenager, a student, or an experienced criminal. The consequences are real, and justice doesn’t stop for excuses.
Today, a teenager captured for gang signs; tomorrow, a life could be saved. There’s no room for tolerance when so much blood has been shed.
