Police from the SGAIA anti-narcotics directorate and public prosecutors searched properties on 8 May 2026 in the departments of Guatemala and Petén as part of a campaign against narcomenudeo, street-level drug selling, carrying out eight searches.[1] The searches covered properties in capital zones 2, 6 and 18, in San José Pinula and Amatitlán, and in areas of Flores and Poptún in Petén.[1] In Ciudad Nueva, zone 2, officers reported dismantling an alleged drug-distribution point at 11 avenida A and 14 calle.[1] Three people were detained in that house: Manuel Alejandro Sanabria Rosales, 24, known as Manolo; Wynder Josué Morente Cruz, 25, known as Chananeco, who has a 2021 drug-transport record; and Vanesa Mildred Sánchez, 30, a Belize national known as Bani.[1] Police named four more detainees as Sheyli Vanessa Ramos Vásquez, 23, Marcos Manuel Flores Huete, 28, Abelino Bac Caal, 35, and Eddy Enrique Godínez Álvarez, 22.[1]

The Ciudad Nueva search turned up two pounds of marijuana, cigarettes made with the drug and bags with cocaine and tusi, alongside crystal, MDMA, ketamine, LSD containers and fentanyl.[1] Across the searches officers counted 71 wrappers and 22 bags with marijuana, plus 871 crack rocks, 10 colmillos and 10 bags with cocaine, and 58 pills with various MDMA, ketamine, LSD, fentanyl and tramadol presentations.[1] In the Ciudad Nueva house officers also seized a Glock pistol with a magazine and ten rounds that had no documentation, along with five mobile phones.[1] Across the operation police also reported seizing 23 electronic cigarettes with marijuana, three electronic scales, six grinders, ten mobile phones, a pistol with magazine and ammunition, and 61,781 quetzales in cash.[1]

Police described the searches as part of their operations against criminal structures dedicated to street-level drug selling across the country.[1]