An online study conducted by La Prensa Gráfica newspaper found that 53 percent of respondents supported the measure, 43 percent described it as unnecessary, and four percent had no opinion on the matter.

The measure is considered to be the fifth stage of the Territorial Control Plan applied by the government, and eases the struggle against the “maras” with the support of the state of emergency law.

Soldiers and the police maintain three perimeters in the municipality of Soyapango and the communities of Tutunichapa and La Granjita. Authorities says that they may also spread to other areas of the country.

The Minister of Justice and Security, Gustavo Villatoro, discussed the effectiveness of the operations and confirmed that 1,402 suspected gang members and collaborators have been detained in the three lockdown areas.

According to Villatoro, more than 1,107 extractions have already been carried out only in Soyapango, while approximately 295 have been detained in the other two communities, which shows the effectiveness of the coordinated work of the Armed Forces and the National Civil Police.

The authorities reported having seized several AK assault rifles, pistols and other equipment used by the maras in their assault and extortion operations in the communities, as well as 191 cell phones, 18 vehicles and more than 18 thousand dollars in cash.

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