Police Documents Prove Illegal Release of MS-13 Leader in El Salvador

Official documents obtained by El Faro through Guacamaya Leaks show not only that Élmer Canales Rivera, “Crook,” was freed from prison in November 2021, but that his exit was registered in emails, police profiles, and other reports from the National Civil Police of El Salvador. These documents also reveal that, hours before the senior MS-13 leader's release, a police team arrived at Zacatecoluca Prison to serve him an additional outstanding arrest warrant, but a member of the unit told El Faro that prison authorities did not let them enter. Despite the fact that Canales was released by the Bukele administration, the Police have requested help from foreign partners to recapture him.