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Twenty members of the U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization Barrio 18 escaped from Guatemala's Fraijanes II prison after evading security controls, prison director Ludin Godinez said. He noted an intelligence warning on Friday about a possible breakout and said officials are probing potential corruption. Washington last month blacklisted the El Salvador-based gang, and the U.S. Embassy called the escape utterly unacceptable, urging immediate recapture and vowing to hold anyone aiding the fugitives accountable. Guatemala counts roughly 12,000 gang members and collaborators, as its homicide rate has risen from 16.1 per 100,000 in 2024 to 17.65 this year.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.