Violence in Guatemala has intensified since last weekend following several attacks perpetrated by gangs against security forces, leading to the declaration of a state of siege in the country.

One of these gangs is Barrio 18, whose main leader is Aldo Dupie Ochoa Mejia, known as “Lobo” (Wolf), who is serving an 80-year prison sentence for several murders.

Ochoa Mejia has also been one of the main protagonists in the last year of the struggle between the gangs and the government presided over by Bernardo Arevalo de Leon, according to EFE.

In addition to this, his figure gained more relevance this weekend after the Minister of the Interior, Marco Villeda, warned that he would not be granted some privileges that Ochoa Mejia and his lieutenants had enjoyed in previous administrations.

Among these benefits requested by the criminal leader, who is almost 40 years old, were air conditioning, a larger bed, and access to food delivery.

The prisoner's complaints date back to August 2025, when he was transferred to the high-security prison 'Renovacion'. I' in the south of the country, after his gang carried out a massacre at a funeral where members of the rival criminal organization, Mara Salvatrucha, were being mourned.

Since then, tensions with the government have grown, with more riots and the bloody attack this Sunday where alleged members of Barrio 18 murdered nine police officers in different parts of Guatemala City.

“We have to analyze and make a decision to determine what his situation will be or how we are going to proceed. For the moment he is in Renovacion I and he will remain there until we make a decision,” Villeda stressed over the weekend, in relation to Ochoa Mejia.

Alleged political ties

The deputies of the ruling party, Movimiento Semilla, have publicly denounced Ochoa Mejia's political ties.

Specifically,He has been singled out for being the romantic partner of Maria Marta Castaneda. towers,niece of former first lady and presidential candidate Sandra Torres Casanova (of the National Unity of Hope party, UNE), who lost the 2023 elections to the current president, Bernardo Arevalo de Leon. Castaneda Torres is currently detained and facing several criminal charges. According to some members of the Semilla party, there is a connection due to shared interests between Torres Casanova and her niece, as well as the former candidate's daughter, Representative Nadia de Leon. Ochoa Mejia has been imprisoned for almost two decades for homicide, with sentences of at least 80 years. However, according to local media, his leadership from prison allows him to extort up to $10,000 a week, or at least that was the case until he was transferred to 'Renovacion' prison. Born in the province of Jalapa, in the east of the country, he became involved in crime from adolescence after living in Zone 18 of Guatemala City, specifically in an area considered a red zone called “El Limon.” Few details are publicly available about his life, beyond his connection to several murders that earned him nearly 1,600 years in prison according to authorities, although Guatemalan law does not allow sentences to be added together. “El Lobo” (The Wolf) entered prison more than 20 years ago, in 2003, and since then he has risen through the ranks of the gang until, according to local media, between 2014 and 2017 he became the leader of Barrio 18,600 years of sentences according to authorities, although Guatemalan law does not allow them to be added together. "El Lobo" entered prison more than 20 years ago, in 2003, and since then he has risen through the ranks of the gang until, according to local media, between 2014 and 2017 he became the leader of Barrio 18,600 years of sentences according to authorities, although Guatemalan law does not allow them to be added together. "El Lobo" entered prison more than 20 years ago, in 2003, and since then he has risen through the ranks of the gang until, according to local media, between 2014 and 2017 he became the leader of Barrio 18.specifically in an area considered a red zone called “El Limon.” Few details are publicly available about his life, beyond his connection to several murders that earned him nearly 1,600 years in prison according to authorities, although Guatemalan law does not allow sentences to be added together. “El Lobo” (The Wolf) entered prison more than 20 years ago, in 2003, and since then he has risen through the ranks of the gang until, according to local media, between 2014 and 2017 he became the leader of Barrio 18,600 years of sentences according to authorities, although Guatemalan law does not allow them to be added together. "El Lobo" entered prison more than 20 years ago, in 2003, and since then he has risen through the ranks of the gang until, according to local media, between 2014 and 2017 he became the leader of Barrio 18,600 years of sentences according to authorities, although Guatemalan law does not allow them to be added together. "El Lobo" entered prison more than 20 years ago, in 2003, and since then he has risen through the ranks of the gang until, according to local media, between 2014 and 2017 he became the leader of Barrio 18.specifically in an area considered a red zone called “El Limon.” Few details are publicly available about his life, beyond his connection to several murders that earned him nearly 1,600 years in prison according to authorities, although Guatemalan law does not allow sentences to be added together. “El Lobo” (The Wolf) entered prison more than 20 years ago, in 2003, and since then he has risen through the ranks of the gang until, according to local media, between 2014 and 2017 he became the leader of Barrio 18,600 years of sentences according to authorities, although Guatemalan law does not allow them to be added together. "El Lobo" entered prison more than 20 years ago, in 2003, and since then he has risen through the ranks of the gang until, according to local media, between 2014 and 2017 he became the leader of Barrio 18,600 years of sentences according to authorities, although Guatemalan law does not allow them to be added together. "El Lobo" entered prison more than 20 years ago, in 2003, and since then he has risen through the ranks of the gang until, according to local media, between 2014 and 2017 he became the leader of Barrio 18.