Tragedy struck El Salvador on Sunday evening when a military helicopter crashed, killing nine people, including the head of the national police force, Mauricio Arriaza. Arriaza was escorting a high-profile suspect, Manuel Coto, accused of embezzling $35 million from a credit union, when the helicopter went down.
President Nayib Bukele, who appointed Arriaza as police chief in 2019, expressed shock and suspicion about the crash. He ordered an investigation and requested international assistance to determine the cause. Bukele praised Arriaza as a key figure in his efforts to combat gang violence and bring peace to the country.
The helicopter, carrying Arriaza, Coto, and a TV news crew, crashed near the Honduran border. All on board died in the tragic incident. Arriaza had traveled to the border to take Coto into custody after Honduran officials captured him trying to escape to the US.
Coto’s arrest was surprising, as authorities had previously announced his detention in Panama in July. It remains unclear how he ended up in Honduras. Coto faces charges of embezzlement and money laundering, along with 31 others, for allegedly stealing from people’s savings and using the funds for luxury items.
The crash has raised questions and sparked an investigation. Arriaza’s death is a significant loss for El Salvador’s efforts to combat crime and corruption. His legacy as a crucial figure in the country’s security efforts will be remembered.
