What Happened When Guatemala’s Interior Ministry Tried to Fire 102 Prison Guards It Accused of Corruption?

In June 2024, Guatemala’s Interior Ministry filed a legal complaint with the Attorney General’s Office against 102 prison guards it accused of corruption. The guards had been manning a notorious gang prison in the Escuintla department, known colloquially as “El Infiernito,” or “Little Hell.” There, days before the accusations surfaced, authorities discovered all manner of contraband – including weapons, alcohol, live animals (among them crocodiles, raccoons, and an eagle), air conditioning units, slot machines, and over $23,000 in cash. The eclectic haul came during a raid aimed at restoring control of what is ostensibly a maximum security prison. Arévalo, One Year On: Is Guatemala’s President Losing the Fight Against Corruption? | Written and narrated by Alex Papadovassilakis. Visit ⁠insightcrime.org⁠ for more

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We have spent the last 15 years investigating organized crime in the Americas from the ground up. Now, on our audio channel, you can hear the best of our investigative and analytic work – from the Patagonia to the Rio Grande Valley to the Andean mountains. Narrated to you by our investigators, we will highlight the human side of this scourge and explain the intricacies of this multifaceted industry. Find it on Apple, YouTube, and Amazon Music, or wherever you get your audio content.