Belize Removes First Confirmed MS-13 Gang Member of 2026 in Joint Operation

A joint security operation carried out last Friday has resulted in the removal of a confirmed member of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) criminal organization from Belize. Police report that officers attached to the GI3 unit in San Ignacio, working in close coordination with Immigration officials, escorted 45-year-old Marvin Edgardo Sandoval, also known as “Cirillo,” to Belize’s western border. Sandoval, a Salvadoran national, was formally handed over to Guatemalan authorities from the Division of Police Information under the Subdirectorate General of Criminal Investigation.  According to authorities, Sandoval was initially detained during a police operation in Silk Grass Village, Stann Creek District, on Tuesday, December 30, at around 3:30 p.m. Police say he was found without a passport or any legal immigration status in Belize and was subsequently handed over to the GI3 unit in San Ignacio.  During an interview with law enforcement, Sandoval reportedly admitted to being a member of Mara Salvatrucha, stating that he was initiated into the gang at the age of 12 while in El Salvador. As a result, he was served with an Order to Leave Belize (OTL) and formally classified as a prohibited immigrant, necessitating his immediate removal from the country.  On Friday, Sandoval was escorted to the western border and handed over to Guatemalan authorities, who then transported him onward to the Salvadoran border. Salvadoran officials confirmed that he was received early on Saturday, followed by a transfer over to Guatemalan authorities without incident.  Sandoval has been labeled as the first confirmed MS-13 gang member removed from Belize for the year 2026.