Guatemala Roundup: US sanction, cocaine bust, child malnutrition

Child malnutrition

Guatemala has reported the loss of 51 children under the age of 5 due to acute malnutrition, according to data from the National Food and Nutrition Security Information System (SIINSAN). The SIINSAN recorded 23,316 cases of acute malnutrition, resulting in 51 tragic deaths, La Hora reports. “It is a pathological state that can be of primary or secondary origin, which is expressed by a set of clinical manifestations, biochemical, metabolic and anthropometric alterations, caused by deficient intake of macro and micronutrients, or caused by a state of catabolic excess causing the dissatisfaction of nutritional requirements,” the report stated. The figures, compiled by the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, underscore the critical need for addressing malnutrition in the country.

TSE Judges Leave Guatemala

Following the removal of their immunity, three judges from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) in Guatemala - Rafael Rojas, Gabriel Aguilera, and Mynor Franco - have left the country. The departure is linked to allegations of irregularities in the purchase of the computer system for the Transmission of Preliminary Electoral Results (TREP) during the 2023 General Elections, The Republica has reporTSE President Blanca Alfaro clarified that the decision to leave was prompted by health reasons and a desire to address legal matters. “There is no way that I can say that the Electoral Body can change the electoral results,” Alfaro told journalists at a press encounter on December 1. Their departure raises questions about the investigation and the impact on the electoral process.

Cocaine bust

Anti-drug forces in Guatemala intercepted a boat carrying a ton of cocaine in Pacific waters after the crew abandoned the vessel, heading towards Mexico. Guatemalan Air Force aircraft detected the boat, prompting it to head towards Mexican waters, where the crew dumped the drug cargo into the sea. Military boats successfully recovered the cocaine, estimated at 1,056 kilos, underscoring the ongoing challenges of drug trafficking in Central America. Central America serves as a route for international cartels transporting drugs to Mexico and the United States. The collaboration between international and local drug traffickers remains a significant concern for regional authorities.

Miguel Martínez sanctioned

 Luis Miguel Martínez Morales faces sanctions from the United States Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for his involvement in corruption in Guatemala. The sanctions, implemented under Executive Order 13818, target individuals engaged in corruption and human rights violations, PubliNews reports. Martínez is accused of participating in widespread bribery schemes related to government contracts. “Today's action underscores the corrosive impact of corruption on public trust in government institutions. Martínez sought to take advantage of his privileged position for personal benefit at the expense of the Guatemalan people…The United States government will continue to hold accountable people whose corrupt schemes undermine democracy and harm populations around the world,” said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian E. Nelson. The sanctioning powers is derived under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which reflects the commitment of US to hold individuals accountable for corruption and rights abuses globally.

Robbery gang leader arrested

The National Civil Police (PNC) has arrested the alleged leader of the notorious gang known as "Los Robaquioscos," which has been operating in shopping centers across the country. Julián "N," 41 years old, was arrested alongside his wife, María "N," 33 years old. Both individuals face charges of illicit association, theft of mobile terminal equipment, and aggravated robbery, La Hora reports. The arrest unfolded during a targeted operation in the Nuestra Señora de la Asunción neighborhood, Jocotales, Chinautla. Investigators from the Specialized Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DEIC) of the PNC, in collaboration with the Property Crimes Prosecutor's Office of the Public Ministry (MP), carried out the raid resulting in the detention of the alleged gang leader and his wife.