El Salvador has issued exceptionally lengthy prison sentences – 1,000 years – to members of notorious gangs, marking a dramatic escalation in the country's crackdown on organized crime. This unprecedented sentencing follows a year-long state of exception implemented to combat the powerful "maras" that have long plagued the nation with violence and extortion. Authorities reported the sentencing of dozens involved in recent gang-related killings. President Nayib Bukele has championed the tough-on-crime policies, citing a significant reduction in homicide rates as a result. However, human rights organizations have raised concerns about due process and the potential for rights abuses amid mass arrests and the state of exception. The severe sentences are intended to deter further gang activity and firmly establish the government’s dominance over criminal organizations. This move reflects El Salvador's increasingly hardline approach to security.