An International Criminal Structure

American authorities now consider a gang from El Salvador, [known as] Mara Salvatrucha or MS13, on the same danger level as the illicit Mexican Zetas and the Japanese mafia, the Yazuka.

An announcement made by the American government expressed that it will be allowed to impound goods from this criminal organization, which works in El Salvador with impunity. [The gang] makes use of extortion, drug trafficking and money laundering during their criminal operations.

This announcement demonstrates the level of danger this transnational gang has achieved and its global transcendence.

For many years, the necessity of a law that allows the state to impound the goods obtained by these criminal organizations has been discussed in El Salvador. However, the political conspiracy in the Legislative Assembly has reduced the priority of this issue.

In El Salvador, MS13 obtains millions of dollars through the extortion of thousands of people and hundreds of companies. Furthermore, it is believed that their leaders have become successful businessmen.

The path chosen by the American government is the right one. The approbation of a plausible law that punishes harder should be accelerated. This law should also impose the law of the state and respect towards victims over any sort of pact.