Suffolk law officials travel to El Salvador, visit prison with inmates who have ties to LI
Law officials said one of the gang cliques was called “Brentwood,” after Brentwood, Long Island, demonstrating the ties the country has to Suffolk County.
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Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. and Undersheriff Kevin Catalina travelled to El Salvador last month to meet with the ministers of defense and justice and visit a prison called CECOT.
The newly built prison houses high-level MS-13 and 18th Street gang members.
The prisoners are not allowed to have communication with the outside, which authorities say has cut down on crime.
The gang members are referred to as “terrorists” in El Salvador.
Toulon and Catalina said they met two prisoners who used to live on Long Island while they were at the prison.
They said one of the gang cliques was called “Brentwood,” after Brentwood, Long Island, demonstrating the ties the country has to Suffolk County.
Toulon said he went to the country because he felt it was important to “walk on the soil” and speak to those dealing with MS-13.
Catalina said they “don’t want to see Long Island’s gang problem ever return to what it was.”
He said the contacts they made in El Salvador were “invaluable.”
While there, the sheriff “explored the country’s security strategies and technology,” his office said.
