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El Salvador’s mass trial against alleged MS-13 members moved into its second day Tuesday, with protected witnesses giving testimony before the court.
Authorities say 486 suspected members of Mara Salvatrucha, known as MS-13, are being tried over crimes allegedly committed between 2012 and 2022.
MS-13 is a powerful Central American gang, while “ranfleros” refers to its top leaders, who prosecutors say gave orders from the highest level.
Deputy prosecutor Max Munoz said the witness testimony aimed to show that MS-13 operated as a “criminal corporation” led by 22 senior figures.
Media outlets were allowed into the courtroom Tuesday, where video footage of defendants was shown on screens.
Salvadoran authorities accuse MS-13 of multiple crimes, including the killing of 87 people during one weekend in March 2022.
Since then, more than 91,000 suspected gang members have been arrested, though officials say thousands were later declared innocent.
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