Gangs have been terrorizing communities and fighting for turf for as
long as street crime has been around. Today’s gangs have evolved into more
powerful and sophisticated groups that will do just about anything and kill
just about anyone for a quick buck. According to the 2011 National Gang Threat
Assessment, there are approximately 1.4 million gang members roaming the
streets and operating in prisons in the United States. Out of the tens of
thousands of gangs in the world, these 10 have caused the most danger in the
21st century.
The Latin Kings is one of the largest and most dangerous Latino street
gangs in the country. The Latin Kings formed in Chicago during the 1940s and
have grown exponentially through the years. The Latin Kings’ chapters operate
in at least 31 states, 158 cities, and have spread to all of Latin America,
Spain, and other parts of Europe. Today, the Kings are as violent and ruthless
as ever — many of the leaders and members have been indicted for mass murders,
million-dollar drug trafficking operations, and federal weapons charges.
The Trinitarios are a New York-based Hispanic gang that was established
in the state prison system during the early ’90s. The Trinitarios are the fastest
growing gang in the New York/New Jersey area, and their operations have
extended to at least 10 other states, in addition to Spain and the Dominican
Republic. The Trinitarios, also called Trinitarians, are involved in a range of
street crime, including racketeering, gun trafficking, narcotics, and
robberies. Unlike most large gangs, the Trinitarios are not affiliated with
other gangs and its rival gangs include the Bloods, Crips, the Latin Kings, and
Dominicans Don’t Play.
The New Dons, also known as Goodfellas and One Twenty-Nine, is a
dangerous street gang that operates around West 129th Street in the Harlem
neighborhood of New York. The gang is known for their wide collection of
firearms, which they use to intimidate rivals. In November 2011, 19 of the New
Dons members were arrested and charged with conspiracy, and some were charged
with weapons possession, firearms trafficking, and attempted murder.
MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) is arguably one of the deadliest and most
powerful gangs in the country. MS-13 has one of the largest memberships
nationwide with operations in at least 42 states and the District of Columbia.
MS-13 members mostly consist of Salvadorans or first generation
Salvadoran-Americans, as well as Hondurans, Guatemalans, Mexicans, and other
Central and South American immigrants. The gang has a reputation for committing
extremely violent crimes, using a wide range of weapons and intimidation tactics.
The Aryan Brotherhood gang has been committing heinous crimes inside
federal prisons for more than 40 years, but the gang has gained an even bigger
and more dangerous presence during the 21st century. The Aryan Brotherhood
began as a hate group/gang that targeted and often murdered non-white
prisoners, but has since shifted its focus to crimes that are not solely
motivated by race. Today, the Aryan Brotherhood has more than 15,000 members
throughout the U.S., and its criminal activity ranges from murder, narcotics
trafficking, and extortion to gambling, robbery, and intimidation.
The Wave Gang and their rivals, the Hood Starz, have been terrorizing
the neighborhood of Brownsville, Brooklyn for years. Both gangs have been
involved in a number of murders, assaults, robberies, and other illegal
activity. A total of 43 members from each gang were recently arrested and
indicted after bragging on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube about a deadly
shooting that killed three people and injured several others.
Insane M.O.B. (aka Money Over Bitches) is a modern-day gang that is
allied with a group of Chicago gangs called "Folk Nation." In October
2010, 29 members of Insane M.O.B. were arrested in Orange County, Fla., for
their involvement in homicides, murder-for-hire plots, drug trafficking, arson,
gun sales, and other criminal activity within the area.
The Red Scorpions is a violent drug-trafficking gang based in British
Columbia, Canada. The gang was allegedly formed by Quang Vinh Le in 2000, while
he was incarcerated at a Vancouver detention center. The Red Scorpions come
from different multicultural backgrounds and are identified by the
"RS" tattoos on their neck, shoulders, and wrists. Since their
formation, the Scorpions have been involved in a large cocaine trafficking
operation and many homicides, including the slaughtering of six people in 2008.
The 18th Street gang is a Los Angeles-based street gang that has become
one of the largest and most ruthless organizations in the country and possibly
in the world. The Latino gang is considered to be the largest street gang in
LA, and its members can be found in 37 states, as well as Mexico and Central
America. The violent gang has been around for decades, but its growing
membership and generations of gang leaders have kept it alive and strong. The
18th Street gang is involved in all areas of street crimes and has been linked
to more than 250 homicides in Los Angeles over the last 10 years.
The Mexican Mafia is one of the oldest and most dominant prison gangs
in the country. The violent gang formed in California’s prisons in the late
’50s and has since expanded to federal prison systems in Texas, Arizona, New
Mexico, and Mexico. The Mexican Mafia is involved in a number of criminal
activities inside and outside of prison, such as murder, extortion, drug
trafficking, and has had a longstanding rivalry with the Black Guerilla Family.
The group reigns over almost every Chicano gang in Southern California and they
are obligated to carry out all orders from the Mexican Mafia or risk the chance
of being murdered.
Contacts and sources:
Jay Smith
http://www.criminaljusticedegreesguide.com/features/the-10-most-dangerous-gangs-of-the-21st-century.html
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