The Anti-Kidnapping Command of the National Civil Police rescued a 54-year-old merchant who was kidnapped in Guatemala.
The release took place this Monday, August 10, in an operation carried out at the Valle de Navarra condominium, in the municipality of San José Pinula.
At the scene, the capture and neutralization of six alleged kidnappers linked to Barrio 18 was achieved, in a case that remains under investigation to establish how long the victim was held and how the kidnapping occurred.
Among those detained are four Guatemalans and two Salvadorans, according to information released by the National Civil Police (PNC).
The authorities seized several cell phones from them which, according to the police report, they used to intimidate and blackmail the victim’s family members while demanding money in exchange for their release.
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The kidnapped woman was located inside the condominium and freed during the operation carried out by specialized agents.
The victim was rescued alive and the six people were placed under the control of security forces as alleged perpetrators of the kidnapping. All of them will be transferred to the Tower of Tribunals to clarify their legal status.
Meanwhile, the investigation remains open to determine the origin of the event and reconstruct the complete sequence of the detention.
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The captured ones
The apprehended Guatemalans were identified as:
- Andrea Álvarez Rosales, 32 years old;
- Jorge Aníbal Álvarez Rosales, 34;
- Wilmer Adán Cruz, 29;
- Edgar Abel García, 27;
Just like the Salvadorans:
- Hilda Maribel Guardón González, 26 years old, alias “La Diabla” and
- Carlos Alfredo González Vázquez, 35.
The PNC reported that among the detainees are four Guatemalans and two Salvadorans for the kidnapping of the merchant.
According to the police version, the six were part of a criminal structure that held the merchant deprived of liberty at that location in San José Pinula. The procedure was the result of intelligence and investigation work carried out by specialized units of the institution.
With background
This is not the first time that Jorge Aníbal Álvarez Rosales has been captured. In 2019, his apprehension was reported during operations to counter drug dealing in Guatemala.
On that occasion, it was reported that Álvarez Rosales was arrested with more than 30 bags of marijuana. His capture took place during raids also carried out in the municipality of San José Pinula.
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Operations increased
Guatemala’s security forces have intensified their operational actions during the current year to combat the crime of kidnapping and abduction, achieving the capture of various individuals involved in criminal networks dedicated to extortion and deprivation of liberty.
According to reports from the National Civil Police, specialized units have responded immediately to citizen alerts. Strategic deployments, known as containment rings and highway operations, have allowed for the interception of vehicles used by criminal structures to commit so-called express kidnappings.
The investigation seeks to establish how long the victim was held and how the kidnapping occurred in San José Pinula.
These tactical actions have not only culminated in the consignment of the alleged perpetrators to the corresponding courts, but have also prioritized the life and integrity of the affected citizens, guaranteeing successful rescues in short periods after the formal complaint.
Public Ministry statistics reveal an increase in kidnapping reports. According to the reports, 157 cases were recorded in 2024, 345 in 2025, and more than 180 reports in the first months of this 2026, highlighting the increase in express kidnappings in urban areas of the capital.
