Guatemala Judge Sends 18 to Money‑Laundering Trial Over Drug Trade

Judge Victor Cruz of Guatemala’s Decimo Penal Court linked 18 individuals to a money‑laundering investigation stemming from alleged narcotics activities, including fentanyl, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, crystal, and marijuana. The suspects were arrested on May 9 in raids across Petén, Alta Verapaz and other regions, where authorities also seized cash, a firearm and large drug quantities. The court dismissed charges of criminal association and international trafficking, limiting the case to money‑laundering and complicity. Cruz granted a substitute measure for the defendants and gave the Public Ministry six months to complete its investigation, with a hearing set for January 2027 to decide whether the case proceeds to trial.

The proceedings highlight Guatemala’s ongoing crackdown on synthetic‑drug networks and the judicial focus on financial aspects of organized crime.