In El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele launched a tough crackdown on gangs, resulting in nearly 80,000 arrests since 2022. However, recent reports indicate that many arrests were made on dubious grounds influenced by neighborhood gossip and innocent appearances, like tattoos.
According to Human Rights Watch and testimonies from police officers, pressure to meet arrest quotas led to these questionable detentions. Bukele's emergency state allowed for the mass confiscation of suspected gang members, transforming El Salvador into one of the safest countries in Central America—a point he proudly promoted internationally.
Yet, lower-ranking officers stated that the fear of jail for failing to meet quotas or being perceived as gang collaborators played a significant role in these arrests, raising questions about the methods used and the overall integrity of the campaign.
