GUATEMALA · CRIME
Key Facts
- —What is happening On Monday, 12 October, Guatemala’s National Civil Police arrested a Guatemalan man aged 64 in San Martín Zapotitlán, Retalhuleu, who is wanted in a US murder case, the 39th extradition arrest this year, state news agency AGN reported.
- —Why it matters The arrest adds to a steady stream of extradition cases linking Guatemala’s police to US prosecutors, one of the most visible results of President Bernardo Arévalo’s security cooperation with Washington.
- —The numbers AGN counts 39 captures for extradition to the United States in Guatemala so far in 2026, led by drug trafficking cases, though AGN and Prensa Libre give different breakdowns of the 39 by type of crime.
- —Who is who AGN says the suspect is surnamed Bustamante, also known as Alex Amado Bustamante Gavidia (Prensa Libre says Alis), held by the Centro Antipandillas Transnacional, a police unit that targets cross border gangs; he has not been convicted and is presumed innocent.
- —What to watch A Guatemalan judge must review the US request; it is not yet known when the hearing will take place or whether he will contest extradition or agree to a faster handover.
- —What it means for you The case shows suspects in US violent crimes can be tracked down abroad: Prensa Libre, citing authorities, reports he is accused under New Jersey law of killing his wife in the United States before moving to Guatemala.
Guatemalan police have arrested a 64-year-old man who is wanted by the United States in a murder case. He is the 39th person detained in Guatemala this year for extradition to the United States, according to the state news agency.
On Monday, 12 October, police in southwestern Guatemala reported arresting a man sought by US authorities over a killing. The arrest adds to a steady stream of extradition cases that link Guatemala’s police to US prosecutors.
The National Civil Police (PNC) carried out the arrest in San Martín Zapotitlán, a town in the department of Retalhuleu. The state news agency AGN and the newspaper Prensa Libre reported the operation on Monday, citing police and publishing police photographs.
What the Police Reported
According to AGN, the detained man is a 64-year-old Guatemalan surnamed Bustamante, also known as Alex Amado Bustamante Gavidia. Prensa Libre gave his first name as Alis, so the spelling of his name is not settled.
Officers from the Centro Antipandillas Transnacional (CAT), a police unit that targets cross-border gangs, made the arrest. Police said the man is wanted by authorities in the United States in connection with a murder case.
Prensa Libre, citing official information on the case, reported that the request concerns a murder charge under New Jersey state law. It quoted authorities as saying he is accused of killing his wife in the United States and later moving to Guatemala.
The man has not been convicted of any crime and is presumed innocent. He has not made any public statement, and it is not known whether he has a lawyer.
Guatemala’s Extradition Arrests This Year
AGN said the arrest is the 39th capture for extradition to the United States in Guatemala so far this year. The agency’s report frames the figure as part of the police’s ongoing work on foreign arrest warrants.
The report also lists the crimes behind earlier cases, led by drug trafficking and followed by rape and homicide. Those categories, as published, do not add up to 39, so this article uses only the overall total.
How Extradition Works in Guatemala
An arrest on an extradition request is only the first step in a judicial process. The detained person is brought before a Guatemalan judge, who must decide whether the request can go ahead.
The accused can contest the request in court or agree to be handed over more quickly. Contested cases can take months, while a handover agreed by the accused usually moves faster.
Guatemala’s government under President Bernardo Arévalo has stressed cooperation with Washington on security and migration. Extradition arrests are one of the most visible results of that cooperation for US law enforcement.
What It Means for US Readers
The case shows how suspects in US violent crimes can be tracked down in their home countries. For families of victims in the United States, an arrest abroad can be the first step towards a trial at home.
Guatemala is one of the largest sources of migration to the United States, and many families live in both countries. Police cooperation on cases like this one matters to communities on both sides of the border.
What Is Not Known
No report named the New Jersey court handling the case or said when the alleged murder occurred. No statement from a US agency on the arrest was found when this article was written.
AGN and Prensa Libre gave different breakdowns of the 39 cases by type of crime. It is also not known whether the man will contest his extradition or when a judge will hear the case.
What Comes Next
The man is expected to appear before a Guatemalan judge, who will review the US request. If the court approves it, he would be handed over to US authorities for trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in Guatemala?
Police arrested a 64-year-old Guatemalan man, surnamed Bustamante and also known as Alex Amado Bustamante Gavidia, according to AGN. He is wanted by US authorities in a murder case.
Where did the arrest take place?
The arrest took place in San Martín Zapotitlán, in the department of Retalhuleu in southwestern Guatemala. Officers from a police unit that targets transnational gangs carried it out.
How many people has Guatemala arrested for extradition this year?
The state news agency AGN said this was the 39th extradition arrest in Guatemala in 2026. Most earlier cases involved drug trafficking.
Will he be sent to the United States?
A Guatemalan judge must first decide whether the US request can go ahead. He can contest the request or agree to a faster handover.
What is he accused of?
Police said US authorities want him in connection with a murder case. Prensa Libre, citing authorities, reported that the case concerns the killing of his wife in New Jersey.
Sources: Agencia Guatemalteca de Noticias (AGN), citing the Policía Nacional Civil; Prensa Libre, citing the PNC and EFE; AGN news section (accessed 13 October 2026).