Blockade of Soyapango

Blockade of Soyapango
Part of the Salvadoran gang crackdown
Date3–31 December 2022 (28 days)
Location
13°42′35″N 89°08′19″W / 13.70972°N 89.13861°W / 13.70972; -89.13861
Resulted inGovernment victory
  • Government control asserted in Soyanpango and removal of gang related graffiti
  • 1,300+ alleged gang members apprehended
  • Security vigil stepped up in city
Parties
Lead figures
Number
10,000
Unknown
Casualties
Arrested1,300+ (as of June 2023)[1]

The blockade of Soyapango was a Salvadoran government operation to arrest criminal gang members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and 18th Street gang in the city of Soyapango. The operation began on 3 December 2022 when Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced that 10,000 members of the country's security forces surrounded the city. As of January 2023 the active phase of the blockade has been completed; however, security forces are still engaged in removing gang related symbols and the security setup in the area has been enhanced.[2]

  1. ^ Sandoval, Williams (23 May 2022). "Van 30 arrestos en cerco Nueva Concepción, según la PNC" [There are 30 arrests in the siege of Nueva Concepción, according to the PNC]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Eliminan grafitis en el municipio de soyapango".