A mass trial has begun in El Salvador for 486 alleged members of the MS-13 gang, including several purported leaders of the criminal organization. The defendants face collective charges for more than 47,000 crimes.

The charges against the group include thousands of murders along with numerous other criminal offenses allegedly committed by the defendants. The trial represents one of the largest gang-related prosecutions in El Salvador's history.

MS-13, formally known as Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational criminal organization that has been active throughout Central America and has expanded operations into the United States. The gang has been linked to extensive criminal activities including homicides, extortion, and drug trafficking.

The mass trial format allows Salvadoran authorities to process a large number of defendants simultaneously, though such proceedings have drawn attention from legal observers regarding due process considerations. El Salvador has pursued an aggressive anti-gang strategy in recent years as part of efforts to combat organized crime.

The trial is expected to continue as prosecutors present evidence against the hundreds of defendants. The outcome could significantly impact the country's ongoing efforts to dismantle gang networks that have operated across the region for decades.