MS13 vs. Barrio18: Salvador's Violent Gang War | Witness | Gang Documentary

With its sandy beaches, Spanish colonial architecture and volcanic lakes lined with restaurants, El Salvador has all the assets of a dream tourist destination. Yet foreign visitors are rare. The reason: this tiny state in Central America is the most dangerous countries in the world. Every year, between 3,000 and 6,000 people are murdered, in a population of only 6 million.

Since the 1990s, the country has been torn apart by a violent gang war. Members of MS-13 and Barrio 18 fight a bloody war for control of the neighbourhoods. Julio, one of the leaders of Barrio 18, opens up before the camera and lets us film the violent induction ceremony for a new member. We also meet Zorro, a hitman who committed some of the worst atrocities.

Forensic pathologist, Riccardo, specializes in the toughest crime scenes. This morning, he is investigating three dismembered and decapitated bodies that have just been found in a ravine. His colleague Israel Ticas, a forensic criminologist, is working on a politically sensitive mass grave where 26 bodies were buried some 15 years ago. Among the victims, there are police and soldiers executed by gangs.

For this documentary, the Salvadoran government also authorized us to enter the high security prison of San Francisco Gotera. Inside, 1,700 gang members are held in deplorable conditions of hygiene and overcrowding. From morning to night, the prisoners are subjected to a true evangelical religious conditioning and the sworn enemies of rival gangs must learn to cohabit in the same cells.

Welcome to the world of the Salvadoran mareros, a ruthless universe where death punctuates daily life and where people murder for a fistful of dollars.

This documentary was produced by Ligne de Front and directed by Vincent Prado. It was first released in 2021.

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[sincityraiders]

I dare anybody in El Salvador to claim gang membership - Automatic life prison sentence

[robertoflores]

IM FROM EL SALVADOR! I LIVED THIS FACE TO FACE AND FROM EVERYONE OUT THERE THIS IS WHAT POOR PEOPLE THINK IS SUCCESS IN LIFE! So next time you take a test in a university college make sure you pass and don’t blame the teacher

[deescott]

This is what Haiti 🇭🇹 and Jamaica 🇯🇲needs

[DonnellOkafor-rd]

Glory to Bukele for putting these demons in prison and giving peace and freedom back to the honest Salvadoran ppl who were terrorized and extorted for yrs.
Bukele deserves the Nobel peace price.
His war name gtfo

[Nodica-bv]

2024, No more gangs coz NB just "shown them, who is the " real boss inside El Salvador.

[ClarkKent-bioq]

That gang initiation was so weak.which then in turn makes their Own Gang look weak AF.😂

[iinfamouss_gamer]

Assuming this is from 2019 because it’s a lot different now

[rebjorn]

Just so y'all know, things have kinda changed there now ..

[LaundrymatCat]

You gotta be a special kinda person to be a coroner in that country....he talks all happy about it like just another day at work. Special kinda person fr fr

[Jvasquez]

People just talk because they don't know what it's like to live threatened by gangs. My family and I know it, and my people who live in El Salvador know it.
Thank you president Bukele keep doing your job ❤

[cchaps]

The jumping in of Bario 18 member was like getting bashed with a bunch of pillows 😂

[eelaypaix]

It was 85, 000+ deaths and over 12, 000 missing.

[MrFlacco]

No need to watch this anymore. We already know they all got taken down.

[shaunanhem]

So all it takes is one good leader anything is possible.

[SVgeoD]

President Bukele has completely turned this country around. I'm about to go back for a third time since 2023 and am bringing my children for the first time ever in August '24.

[guille]

no more blood , no more for the news 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮, no more suffering, que viva el salvador, que viva bukele

[jaysin]

He said I don't steal I don't grapes... No more wtf..

[mr.jabbar]

These people make Chicago California and New York look like
Disneyland

[LittlesG]

Not anymore this is actually the safest place in central America now. Honduras needs to hop on board too. Well all of central America. Honduras is the most dangerous now. 🇭🇳💪💯

[justiceforall]

Imagine you, as a 16 yrs old kid, just got jumped into the gang! Earned your tattoo! Two days later, Bukele decides on a huge round up of all gang members in El Salvador. Now you are in the Mega Carcel for the rest of your life… I can’t even imagine how sad and unbearable that must be…. I’m not down playing the horrible, sad and tragic things that happened to all the innocent people, because they didn’t ask for or deserve that fate. but just imagine a young kid, 9-16yrs old being manipulated by these older gangsters for their evil deeds, you do have to feel sorry for these kids that are being used by the gangs!