According to Michael Soto, head of the Office of Plans and Operations of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ), all Central American countries reported a decrease in homicides during 2017, except Costa Rica.
Although Costa Rica reports 600 homicides that are very far from the 3,700 cases registered in Guatemala, the situation is worrisome for the authorities.
The police chief revealed the data on the crime handled by the Central American Police Commission in November.
The only country that reports an increase was Costa Rica with 10 to the month of November and now we have 22 more homicides [compared to 2016],”
explained Soto.
The official explained that in the northern triangle there have been reports of truces with the gangs that have impacted the homicide rate. And the difference with Costa Rica is that there is a dispute over narc territories in the country, which causes a rise in statistics.
• Costa Rica: To date, it reports 22 more homicides than in 2016, reaching 600 victims, a record figure.
• El Salvador: reports the most important decrease in the region: 1,337 fewer homicides.
• Guatemala: 46 fewer homicides. It is the Central American country with the highest number of cases: more than 3,700 homicides.
• Nicaragua: 14 fewer homicides.
• Panama: nine fewer homicides.
• Dominican Republic: 43 fewer homicides
• Puerto Rico: five fewer homicides.