El Salvador Police Swoop on 140 Gang Suspects

El Salvador police rounded up 140 suspected gang members Friday in a broad sweep encompassing several communities across the country, which has one of the highest murder rates in the world.

The suspects were arrested in connection to a range of crimes including murder, extortion, robbery and rape, a statement from the attorney general's office said. 

In the west San Salvador community of Las Palmas, 31 members of the notorious Barrio 18 gang were arrested, authorities said. 

Among those arrested were three police agents suspected of involvement with illegal groups and smuggling prohibited items. 

In the city of Guazapa, 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of the capital San Salvador, 25 members of the feared Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang were arrested in connection to four homicides committed between 2011 and 2013.

El Salvador's powerful gangs agreed to a truce in March 2012 that initially led to a drop in daily homicides from 14 to five.

But that rate has since crept back up to about 10 per day, according to official statistics.