A report from the National Civil Police (PNC) indicated that January 2023 concluded with a rate below two crimes imputable to gangs per 100,000 inhabitants, below Canada, which was in the lead with 1.80 deaths.

The PNC stated that on January 31, no deaths were reported nationwide as a result of gang activity, an achievement attributable to the Territorial Control Plan (PCT) and the emergency regime approved by the Legislative Assembly, which is to be extended at the end of the first half of February.

President Nayib Bukele praised the progress on his Twitter account and said it was the lowest homicide rate in the Americas.

The police report also stated that the number of detained terrorists, a term given by the country’s law to gang members, is 62,975, many of whom will be transferred in the coming days to a giant prison inaugurated on Monday by President Bukele, which will have a capacity for 40,000 inmates, the largest of its kind in the Americas.

In the last year, December was the safest month, with 22 days without deaths due to violence, as well as July and August 2022, which closed with 21 days with zero homicides each.

These statistics only include crimes attributed to gangs and not others caused by common criminals.

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