A coordinated onslaught by gangsters in Guatemala, which initiated with upheavals in three prisons, has resulted in the deaths of ten police officers. This has led President Bernardo Arévalo to announce a 30-day countrywide state of emergency to address the escalating violence.
The violent outbreak started on Saturday, January 17, as inmates took control of three prisons and held 46 guards and staff as hostages in a choreographed riot. The gangs demanded privileges for their members and leaders. Law enforcement retaliated on Sunday to reclaim the facilities, which spurred a series of vengeful attacks on the police officers.
Security forces stormed the Renovacion I maximum-security prison in Escuintla, approximately 47 miles south of Guatemala City, using armored vehicles and tear gas. Additionally, 28 hostages were held in the Fraijanes II prison to the east of the capital, and another nine in the Preventivo prison on the outskirts of the city.
Following the prison operations, officers were killed on the outskirts of Guatemala City in Villanueva, where evidence markers were positioned at the crime scenes. Initially, eight officers were reported dead, and ten were injured in the counterattacks. However, officials revised the count to ten dead late on Monday, January 19.
On Sunday evening, President Arévalo declared the month-long nationwide state of emergency. This decision suspends the right to assemble and allows for arrests and interrogation without court orders. This emergency declaration received near-unanimous approval from the country’s lawmakers on Monday.
In response to the declaration, soldiers were seen deployed around the Congress in Guatemala City on Monday. All schools across the country were closed as a safety measure.
The Interior Ministry held a wake for the deceased officers on Monday. President Arévalo was seen comforting the families of the officers in a show of unity and support.
Reacting to the situation, the U.S. Embassy issued a security alert on Sunday, advising its staff to stay indoors and avoid large gatherings. In a recent legislative update in October, Congress classified members of the Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha gangs as terrorists, and increased prison sentences for gang members involved in criminal activities.
David Custodio Boteo, the National Civil Police Director, reported a minimum of 10 armed attacks on police. Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda attributed these killings to “these terrorists, in response to the actions the Guatemalan state is taking against them.”
The interior ministry released a video showing officers arresting Aldo Dupie, alias “El Lobo,” the alleged leader of the Barrio 18 gang in Guatemala. Both Barrio 18 and its rival gang Mara Salvatrucha are held responsible for the majority of drug trafficking and criminal violence plaguing the Central American country.
Since the middle of 2025, gang members have staged prison revolts demanding their leaders be held under less stringent conditions. In October, 20 leaders of the Barrio 18 gang escaped from prison. To date, only six have been recaptured, while another was shot and killed.
In 2023, the homicide rate in Guatemala was 16.1 per 100,000 residents, according to the Human Rights Watch, more than double the worldwide average. Defense Minister Henry Saenz declared the army “will remain on the streets” to continue “dismantling” criminal groups.
The deaths of ten officers marked a significant setback for the National Civil Police, sparking debates about officer safety and resource allocation to law enforcement. The state of emergency grants the government enhanced powers to handle the crisis without customary procedural restrictions.
