Salvadoran gangs and extortion. Challenges and priorities related to the extortion phenomenon

Abstract

During the last few years extortion has garnered a somber relevance for society as a whole, aside from the preponderance it already possessed from law enforcement agents and criminal investigators. The generation of income both in cash and in kind destined for criminal structures, particularly amongst gangs/maras, as well as its implications concerning danger levels and future potential, have made the agencies responsible of public security take a closer look at this crime and ensure there is a full comprehensive assessment made regarding the extortion phenomenon. The above, involved looking into this crime’s different forms of execution, existing enabling factors and the different criminal scenarios it fits into; reviewing how police and prosecutors address these offenses, all operative, investigative and legal implications, as well as the results achieved in the fight against it. Nonetheless, extortion
remains a challenge, not only for the institutions involved (Police and the Prosecutor’s Office), but also for the key stakeholders and all those responsible of making strategic decisions for the country.

Revista Policía y Seguridad Pública 5(1) 2015: 103-148