MS-13

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Mara Salvatrucha
MS-13 gang member with gang's name tattooed on his back.
Years active1980s - present
TerritoryNorth America, Central America
EthnicityLatino
MembershipUnknown
ActivitiesDrug trafficking, robbery, extortion, Arms trafficking, murder, contract killing, etc.

Mara Salvatrucha are large gangs in Northern Central America and the United States. The gang names are commonly abbreviated as MS,[1] Mara, and MS-13, and are composed mostly of Salvadorans, Hondurans, Guatemalans, Nicaraguans and Mexicans. The Mara Salvatrucha gangs have cliques, or factions, located throughout the United States and Latin America.

Their activities have caught the eye of the FBI, who in September 2005 initiated wide-scale raids against suspected gang members, netting 660 arrests across the country.[1] In the United States, the gang's strongholds have historically been in the American Southwest and West Coast states. Membership in the U.S was believed to be as many as about 50,000 as of 2005.[2] MS-13 criminal activities include drug smuggling and sales, black market gun sales, human trafficking, auto thefts, home invasions, assaults on law enforcement officials, and contract killing.[3]

Former gang member Brenda Paz said that MS is well structured, with multiple, leaders, and that the gang's goal is to become the top gang in the United States.[1]

History

The Mara Salvatrucha gang originated in Los Angeles, set up in 1980s by Salvadoran immigrants in the city's Pico-Union neighborhood.[4] There is some dispute about the etymology of the name (see below: Etymology). The most common belief is that Mara refers to the Spanish word for gang; it is suggested that Salvatrucha refers to the Salvadoran guerrillas, the source of much of the gang's early manpower.

Originally, the gang's main purpose was to protect Salvadoran immigrants from others, more established gangs of Los Angeles, who were predominately comprised of Mexicans and African-Americans.[5] For this reason, the gang initially allowed only Salvadorans to join, but later allowed other Central Americans to join as well.

Many Mara Salvatrucha gang members from the Los Angeles area have been deported either because of their illegal status in the United States, or for committing crimes as non-citizens, or both.[6] As a result of these deportations, members of MS-13 have recruited more members in their home countries. The Los Angeles Times contends that deportation policies have contributed to the size and influence of the gang both in the United States and in Central America.[6] Salvadoran authorities report that approximately 60% of prison inmates serving prison terms for gang-related crimes there have either fled prosecution or have been deported from the United States.[6]

Publicized crimes

On July 13, 2003, Brenda Paz, a 17-year-old female, was found murdered on the banks of the Shenandoah River in Virginia. Paz was killed for "snitching" or telling the police about Mara Salvatrucha activities. Four of her friends were later convicted of the murder.[7]

On December 23, 2004, one of the most widely publicized MS-13 crimes in Central America happened in Chamelecón, Honduras. An intercity bus was intercepted and sprayed with automatic gunfire, killing 28 passengers, most of whom were women and children.[8] In February 2007, the courts found Juan Carlos Miranda Bueso and Darwin Alexis Ramírez guilty of several crimes including murder and attempted murder. Ebert Anibal Rivera was held over the attack and was arrested in Texas after having fled.[9] Juan Bautista Jimenez, accused of masterminding the attack, was killed in prison. According to the authorities, he was hanged by fellow MS-13 inmates.[10] There was insufficient evidence to convict Óscar Fernando Mendoza and Wilson Geovany Gómez.[9]

On May 13, 2006, Ernesto "Smokey" Miranda, an ex-high ranking soldier and one of the founders of the Mara Salvatrucha, was murdered at his home in El Salvador a few hours after declining to attend a party for a gang member who had just been released from prison. He had begun studying law and working to keep children out of gangs.[11]

On June 4, 2008, in Toronto, Ontario, police executed 22 search warrants, made 17 arrests and laid 63 charges following a five-month investigation.[12]

On June 22, 2008, in San Francisco, California, a 21-year old MS-13 gang member, Edwin Ramos, shot and killed a father and two of his sons because of alleged "mistaken identity" for rival gang members.[13]

Illegal immigration and human smuggling

According to The Washington Times, MS-13 "is thought to have established a major smuggling center" in Mexico.[14] There were reports that MS-13 members were ordered to Arizona to target border guards and Minuteman Project volunteers.[15][16]

In 2005, Honduran Security Minister Oscar Alvarez and the President of El Salvador raised alarm by claiming that Al-Qaeda was meeting with MS-13 and other Central American gangs to help them infiltrate the United States. FBI agents said that the U.S. intelligence community and governments of several Central American countries found there is no basis to believe that MS-13 is connected to Al-Qaeda or other Islamic radicals, although Oscar did visit Central America to discuss the issue.[17]

Robert Morales, a prosecutor for Guatemala, indicated to The Globe and Mail that some Central American gang members seek refugee status in Canada. Superintendent of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police integrated gang task force, John Robin, said in an interview that "I think [gang members] have a feeling that police here won't treat them in the harsh manner they get down there."[18] Robin noted that Canadian authorities "want to avoid ending up like the U.S., which is dealing with the problem of Central American gangsters on a much bigger scale".[18]

On the southern border of Mexico, the gang has unleashed violence against migrants.[19]

Etymology

There are various possible explanations for the name Mara Salvatrucha. Some sources state the gang is named for La Mara, a street in San Salvador, and the Salvatrucha guerrillas who fought in El Salvador's bloody civil war.[20] Additionally, the word mara means gang in Caliche and is taken from marabunta, the name of a fierce type of ant. "Salvatrucha" is a portmanteau of Salvadoran and trucha, a Caliche word for being alert, usually entailing preparedness for crime or abuse from police.

Gang markings and hand signs

An MS suspect bearing gang tattoos is handcuffed. In 2004, the FBI created the MS-13 National Gang Task Force. A year later, the FBI helped create National Gang Intelligence Center.

Many Mara Salvatrucha members cover themselves in tattoos. Common markings include "MS", "Salvatrucha" the "Devil Horns" the name of their clique and other symbols.[21] A December 2007 CNN internet news article stated that the gang was moving away from the tattoos in an attempt to commit crimes without being noticed.[22]

Members of Mara Salvatrucha, like members of most modern American gangs, utilize a system of hand signs (stacking)for purposes of identification and communication. One of the most commonly displayed is the "devil's head" (formed by extending the index and little fingers of the hand while tucking in the middle and ring fingers with the thumb), which forms an M when displayed upside down. showin respect to the highest latino gang LA EME (mexican mafia ) from where the number 13 displayed on their name comes from .

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Fight Against MS-13." 60 Minutes: CBS News. 04-12-2005. Accessed 14-11-2007.
  2. ^ del Barco, Mandalit. "The International Reach of the Mara Salvatrucha." NPR News. Retrieved 2006-11-15.
  3. ^ "Marijuana - Virginia Drug Threat Assessment." Drug Intelligence Center (March 2002).
  4. ^ "The International Reach of the Mara Salvatrucha." NPR.org.
  5. ^ Sheridan, Mary Beth. "In N.Va. Gang, A Brutal Sense Of Belonging." The Washington Post. June 27, 2004.
  6. ^ a b c Lopez, Robert J. (October 30, 2005). "Gang Uses Deportation to its Advantage to Flourish in the U.S." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-12-05. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Frieden, Terry. "Two convicted, two acquitted in suburban Virginia street gang trial". CNN'. March 17, 2005.
  8. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4124133.stm "Gang linked to Honduras massacre."] BBC. December 24, 2004.
  9. ^ a b "Honduras massacre 'leader' held." BBC. February 24, 2005.
  10. ^ "Countries at the Crossroads 2007." freedomhouse.org.
  11. ^ del Barco, Mandalit. "Gang Leader Shot to Death on Road to Reform." NPR News. May 16, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-15.
  12. ^ "Central American gang was plotting murder in Toronto, police say." CBC. June 5, 2008.
  13. ^ Derbeken, Jaxon Van. "Widow pleads for death penalty." San Francisco Chronicle. June 27, 2008.
  14. ^ "Al Qaeda seeks tie to local gangs." Washington Times. September 28, 2004.
  15. ^ "Gang will target Minuteman vigil on Mexico border." Washington Times. March 28, 2005.
  16. ^ Carter, Sara A. and Mason Stockstill. "Report: MS-13 gang hired to murder Border Patrol." DailyBulletin.com. January 9, 2006.
  17. ^ Harman, Danna. "U.S. steps up battle against Salvadoran gang MS-13." USA Today. February 23, 2005.
  18. ^ a b Mason, Gary (2008-01-07). "Canada is a haven to gangsters on the run". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2008-01-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "El Tren de la Muerte". Dallas Observer. July 26, 2007.
  20. ^ Domash, Shelly Feuer. "America's Most Dangerous Gang." apfn.org.
  21. ^ Werner, Zach. "FBI Targets MS-13 Street Gang." NewsHour Extra. October 5, 2005. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
  22. ^ ""Tattooed faces a dead giveaway: Gangs go for new look." CNN. December 16, 2007.

External links

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