The Mara Salvatrucha gang better known as MS-13, is a gang that was founded in the United States in the 1980’s by Salvadoran immigrants who immigrated to the United States after the Central American civil wars of the 1980’s and was originated in Los Angeles, California. The gang’s original purpose was to protect Salvadoran immigrants from other already existing gangs made up of African Americans and Mexicans in the Los Angeles area, however, now they have no problem bullying their way into a lot neighborhoods and continue to rob and extort. The Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) is mostly made up of Salvadorans, Guatemalans, and Hondurans. In the United States, the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) present themselves heavily in Boston, Massachusetts; the Los Angeles County in California; San Francisco, California; Charlotte, North Carolina; Houston,Texas; Newark, New Jersey; Plainfield, New Jersey; Jersey City, New Jersey; and Elizabeth, New Jersey; Queens, New York; Long Island, New York; Fairfax County, Virginia; Montgomery County, Maryland; Prince George’s County, Maryland; and in the metropolitan area of Washington D.C. In Toronto, Canada, the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) also has a presence. Today the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) has about 70,000 members strong and is increasing day by day. 30,000 to 50,000 members worldwide and about over 10,000 members in and throughout the United States. The Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) most popular criminal activity involves, murder, kidnapping, battery, illegal immigration, drug trafficking, human trafficking, arms trafficking, robbery, prostitution, people smuggling, money laundering, racketeering, larceny and extortion. Members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) usually almost cover their bodies and faces in tattoo’s related to the gang. The tattoo’s usually read “Mara Salvatrucha”, “Mara”, “MS”, “13”, “Salvatrucha”, devil horns, devil faces, etc.
The Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) was quickly recognized by the already existing gangs in the Los Angeles area. One gang, known as the Mexican Mafia (la eMe) integrated the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) into their regional Latino gang alliance. This offered the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) more protection in prison and throughout the city. The Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) in return, provided hitmen for the Mexican Mafia (la eMe). The Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) has other allies as well. Allies such as Los Zetas, Sinaloa Cartel, La Familia Michoacana, Gulf Cartel, and the Surenos. Of course with the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) having allies, they also have rivals. Rivals such as the Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, Sombra Negra, 18th Street Gang, Los Negros, Juarez Cartel, Fresno Bulldogs, Pirus, Tijuana Cartel, Tiny Rascal Gang, and the Beltrán-Leyva Cartel.
The Mara Salvatrucha, or MS13, is possibly the most notorious street gang to have ever existed. But is The Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) a gang or a truly well ran criminal organization? First, we must know the definitions of both a gang, and a criminal organization. A gang is defined as “a group of friends or family with identifiable leadership and internal organization, identifying with or claiming control over territory in a community, and engaging either individually or collectively in illegal or violent behavior. Some criminal gang members ‘jumped in’ or have to prove their loyalty and right to belong to a group by committing certain acts, usually a theft or violence act”. On the other hand, a criminal organization is defined as “a category of transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals who intend to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for money and profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist groups, are politically motivated. Sometimes criminal organizations force people to do business with them, such as when a gang extorts money from shopkeepers for so-called ‘protection’”. I believe that The Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) is both a gang and a truly well ran criminal organization. Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) is a gang because members do claim control over territory in communities, cities, and states. The Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) also engages either individually or collectively in illegal or violent behavior. Members do graffiti to up the gang’s name, as well as sell drugs for income, murder and rape for reputation. The Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) can also be a well organized criminal organization because of the amount of drugs that they sell and because of the amount of money they bring in per year. The Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) brings in an estimated and rumored $31.2 million dollars per year.
The Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13) is so powerful because of they power that they have gained throughout the years of existence. They’ve made a name for themselves, and they made this name through drugs, kidnappings, trafficking, and murder.They are one of the most powerful gangs in history, they bring in millions of dollars per year, and they are 70,000 members strong. And that alone attracts many young men and women to join the gang each and everyday to join this organization. Many young men and women feel safe to join this organization because of the outstanding number of members, this provides a sense of family for them, as well as, a desire for protection for young men and women who look to join this gang.
There is no one specific person to blame for the creation of gangs. Everything/everyone from the Government, to our society, to parents, to friends can be held accountable for the creation of gangs. Gangs can go back a long time. Some risk factors for the creation of gangs include lack of jobs for the youth, lack of parental supervision, domestic violence, and early academic failure.
Gang prevention is something that is increasing in numbers year by year. We, as a society, can prevent Gangs by strengthening families, Increasing adult supervision of students after school, teaching students that gangs can be dangerous, providing tutoring for students who are performing poorly in school, and by providing a center for youth recreation and referrals for services. A balance of suppression, prevention, and intervention strategies are definitely important in order to have success in any community. Prevention programs can target the youth who are borderline gang involvement and reduces the youth numbers in joining gangs. I feel that incarceration can only disrupt gang activity so much, but overall I feel it makes gang activity worse because most members in jail are forced to join gangs for protection from other gangs.