Prisoners House Unusual Pets: Crocodiles and Falcons
The infamous "little hell" prison in Guatemala earned its nickname for a reason: During the cleanup of the detention center, authorities stumbled upon wandering crocodiles and raccoons. Additionally, the inmates had set up a call center within the prison walls.
In response to these shocking conditions, 225 members of the notorious "Barrio 18" gang were transferred to another correctional facility. As reported by Interior Minister Francisco Jimenez, these gang members were forced to vacate the notorious "El Infiernito" ("The Little Hell") prison.
Upon further investigation, police uncovered a surprising range of amenities within the prison. Apart from the call center, which had already been shut down during a previous raid, they discovered free-roaming chickens, a pond populated by crocodiles, raccoons, foxes, hawks, and other birds of prey. Moreover, inmates enjoyed air conditioning, televisions, and refrigerators.
To regain control of the prison, Jimenez assured that the authorities would search for all hidden places where money, firearms, and mobile phones were stored. The state plans to rebuild the facility into a "real high-security prison" with "strict controls," allowing for no luxuries or vacations. "It's a prison, not a vacation," he stressed.
Vice-Security Minister Claudia Palencia, who visited the prison after the gang members' removal, claimed that the previous governments had abandoned the facility more than 30 years ago. This neglect allowed the prisoners to live in comfort within its walls. While Guatemala's penal system has yet to undergo any renovation in terms of infrastructure or technology, she criticized this state of affairs.
700 police officers, including animal protection officers, joined forces to conduct a raid on the prison in Escuintla, 70 kilometers south of Guatemala City. The animals discovered during the cleanup will be examined by veterinarians, with those fit for release returned to the wild. The rest will be housed in protected areas.
Guatemala remains one of the most dangerous countries in Latin America, with a murder rate of 25 per every 100,000 inhabitants, totaling over 4,360 homicides in the past year. More than half of these crimes are linked to drug or gang activity. In a recent confession, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo acknowledged that some areas in the capital, Guatemala City, have fallen under the control of criminal gangs.
The rivalry between the "Barrio 18" and "Mara Salvatrucha" gangs continues as they battle for dominance in Guatemala. Barrio 18 primarily engages in extortion, often using prison phone lines to demand protection money. Those who refuse to pay risk being handled by the gangs, according to officials.
Read also:
- The shocking living conditions in Guatemala's "little hell" prison, known for housing animals like crocodiles and raccoons, highlight the need for international intervention in improving animal welfare standards in prisons.
- The transfer of 225 members of the "Barrio 18" gang from the infamous "El Infiernito" prison to another facility was a result of their involvement in crimes such as murder and manslaughter.
- Following the raid on the Guatemalan prison in Escuintla, animal protection officers worked closely with police to ensure that all animals, including crocodiles, raccoons, and hawks, were treated humanely and given proper care.
