Guatemala Roundup: Crime networks, PNC rebuttal, salary debate

Crime networks shift from “pacts” to territorial dispute

Guatemala is seeing a shift in organised crime dynamics as Mexican cartels, notably Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generación and a newer Cartel Chiapas–Guatemala faction expand influence, challenging old tacit “peace” arrangements and escalating violent territorial disputes. Analysts note that Guatemala is no longer just a transit zone for narcotics but a space of active control and conflict, marked by armed clashes, murders and threats to security forces. Recent incidents in Huehuetenango and Sololá highlight this pattern of violence spreading from the Mexico–Guatemala frontier into the interior of the country.

PNC says report blaming army was written under threats

The National Civil Police (PNC) has disputed an earlier police report that accused the Guatemalan Army of attacking civilians and a patrol in Nahualá, Sololá during recent clashes. The PNC claims the original report was drafted under coercion, threats and extreme violence by armed groups, and insists that a revised, verifiable account was later submitted to prosecutors. Authorities maintain that the verified version confirms engagements with illegal armed actors and justifies the state of prevention in the area. The violence forms part of a broader security crisis in western Guatemala, where long-running territorial disputes between Nahualá and Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán have escalated into armed attacks on police and military positions. The unrest prompted the government to deploy security forces and impose temporary restrictions on movement and public gatherings.

Debate intensifies over Guatemala’s 2026 minimum wage increase

Guatemalan officials have approved an increase in the minimum wage for 2026, with differentiated hikes across sectors, 7.5% for non-agricultural work, 5.5% in agriculture and 4% in export and maquila sectors, effective 1 January. While the government says the adjustments align with technical criteria and economic needs, some analysts argue the rise exceeds what economic indicators justify and could challenge business formalisation. Business groups have called for more technical discussion on wage policy amid divided reactions across sectors.

Guatemala expels alleged Mara 18 gang member to El Salvador

Guatemalan authorities located and expelled Adilson Alfonso “Fatboy” Gómez, a 39-year-old alleged member of the Mara 18 gang wanted in El Salvador with multiple arrest orders. The operation, involving investigators from the DIPANDA unit, reflects continued efforts to remove transnational gang figures hiding in Guatemala. Gómez was delivered to Salvadoran authorities after being found in Guatemala City’s Zone 7, and his expulsion underscores ongoing regional cooperation against organised gang activity.

US issues travel warning over violence in Sololá region

The United States Embassy in Guatemala has issued a travel advisory urging US citizens to avoid the municipalities of Nahualá and Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán in Sololá due to deteriorating security following violent clashes. The alert follows the Guatemalan government’s 15-day state of prevention declaration in response to recent armed confrontations that killed and wounded civilians and security forces. The embassy’s warning emphasises heightened risks for travellers in and around the conflict area.