The 8 Machetes Group and other criminal gangs, currently in prison, could be tried in the near future. This information was confirmed at the working session that H. E. Nguema Obiang Mangue held on Thursday with the highest judicial authorities and the Ministry for National Security.
Six months ago, the Vice-President of the Republic declared war on criminals with the launch of Operation Clean-up. Objective: to neutralise the criminal gangs that were terrorising the population.

Nguema Obiang Mangue believes it is time to start legal proceedings against these alleged criminals. To that end, end, he instructed those assembled to classify the members according to their degree of involvement in the crimes committed, because he understands that some were ringleaders and others let themselves be led.

In that regard, the Vice-President of the Republic said that the guilty must be punished according to the law; while minors will be transferred to re-education centres and the innocent will be acquitted.

Operation Clean-Up, launched in May with a total of 816 troops, has not only arrested more than 500 suspected criminals, but also curbed the production, marketing and consumption of marijuana in the country.

At another point in the meeting, and in view of the Presidential, Legislative and Municipal Elections on 20th November, Nguema Obiang Mangue once again insisted that expatriates formalise their legal status in the country, since, as he stressed, the period granted by the Malabo government had expired. To that end, Security will begin checks throughout the country in the coming days.

Source: Official Web Page of the Government