El Salvador dangers

The US Department of State reminds travelers that crime and violence levels in El Salvador remain critically high. 

Transnational criminal organizations conduct narcotics and arms trafficking throughout the country and use violence to control drug-trafficking routes and carry out other criminal activity. Other criminals commit crimes such as murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, armed robbery, rape and other aggravated assaults. 

El Salvador, a country of roughly six million people, has, according to government of El Salvador statistics, some 40,000 known gang members, quick to engage in violence if resisted.

Extortion is a particularly serious and common crime in El Salvador. Some extortion attempts are no more than random cold calls that originate from imprisoned gang members using cellular telephones, and the subsequent threats against each victim are made through social engineering and/or through information obtained about the victim’s family. People who are visiting El Salvador for extended periods may be at higher risk for extortion demands. 

Hitting its peak a few years ago, extortion has dropped in the last two years. However, recent reports show that there is an increase in the level of violence associated with extortion cases, with media reports of extortion victims and witnesses being killed. Extortion attempts can be transnational in nature and can include kidnapping of victims.