Owners of brewery accused of drug trafficking

The National Civil Police (PNC) arrested on Thursday, January 11th in the morning the owners of a brewery in San Salvador who are accused of using their business for illicit drug trafficking.

The Minister of Justice and Public Security, Gustavo Villatoro, identified the owners of the brewery as Edin Stanley Aparicio Zelaya and Alexandra Yulhy Martínez Merino. The business is located in front of Centenario Park, the official stated.

According to the police investigation, Aparicio Zelaya is identified by authorities as a member and collaborator of the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) and also has previous records for the crime of extortion.

Aparicio Zelaya and Martínez Merino will be handed over to the Attorney General’s Office to be criminally prosecuted for drug trafficking, possession, and ownership, Minister Villatoro indicated.

The authorities reported that they confiscated from the detainees 28 portions of cocaine valued at more than $700. They also seized $650 in cash and two cell phones.