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Salvadoran President Bukele Accused of Secret Gang Deals

5/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele stands accused of striking secret deals with gang leaders to bolster his political grip, contradicting his anti-gang stance. Gang leader Carlos Cartagena Lopez exposed these agreements dating back to 2014, which included intimidation tactics against rivals. While Bukele's government has jailed over 110,000 individuals, violent crime has astonishingly dropped by 80%.

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Story summary

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele stands accused of striking secret deals with gang leaders to bolster his political grip, contradicting his anti-gang stance. Gang leader Carlos Cartagena Lopez exposed these agreements dating back to 2014, which included intimidation tactics against rivals. While Bukele's government has jailed over 110,000 individuals, violent crime has astonishingly dropped by 80%.