Nov. 20 (UPI) -- FBI agents arrived in Guatemala this week after the government requested U.S support to track down 16 gang members of the Barrio 18 group who escaped from the Fraijanes II prison Oct. 12.
Guatemala 's Interior Minister, Marco Antonio Villeda, held a meeting with the FBI team Tuesday begin operations. The effort will be led by the Vulcano Joint Task Force, an FBI unit specialized in combating transnational criminal organizations, the digital outlet EP Investiga reported.
Villeda said the collaboration with the FBI includes intelligence sharing, profile tracing, international tracking and identification of possible logistical support networks for the 16 fugitives, some of whom have been sentenced to more than 1,000 years in prison for multiple homicides and extortion.
The joint team will also coordinate updated Interpol alerts and request assistance from neighboring countries if investigators believe the fugitives may have left Guatemalan territory.
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