El Salvador: MS-13 vs. Barrio 18

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.

Since the 1990s, the country has been torn apart by a gang war. Members of MS-13 and Barrio 18 fight a war for control of the neighbourhoods. Julio, one of the leaders of Barrio 18, opens up before the camera and lets us film the induction ceremony for a new member.

Forensic pathologist, Riccardo, specializes in the toughest crime scenes.

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.

Director: Vincent Prado

source