From OSAC's 2025 country report: (1) vehicles with tinted glass on every window, assailants on motorcycles pick out targets by the light of mobile phones; a new tactic is Bluetooth scanning to locate high-value handsets ("Sam's iPhone"): rename the device and switch Bluetooth off; (2) no intercity travel at night, convoys of at least 2 vehicles outside the capital, and care with navigation apps, which may route through gang-controlled neighbourhoods; (3) official US personnel are barred from using public buses (a priority extortion target), and taxis only if pre-vetted; (4) the PNC lacks staff, equipment and investigative capacity (low base pay, 6 months of training) and there are reports of hold-ups by people in police uniforms or vehicles, the public response does not replace private protocols; (5) PNC emergencies 110/120, fire service 122/123, MP 1574, Crime Stoppers 1561.
Which security best practices does OSAC recommend for operating in Guatemala?
According to the cited documentsOperational security
Sources
OSAC Guatemala Country Security Report, 15-may-2025
