Mara Salvatrucha, better known as MS-13, is considered the most dangerous gang in the world. Formed in the 80-ies in Los Angeles, mostly from the Salvadoran immigrants who fled civil war, the gang took as its motto: «mata, viola, controla» — «murder, rape, control.»
The gang operates in the United States and in Central and South America.
Here are thirteen facts about MS-13 that are useful to know.
1. It was created to defend against other gangs
In the 80-ies in the United States came thousands of immigrants who fled from El Salvador because of the civil war. In Los Angeles they were met by Mexican gangs, so the Salvadorans had to prove his strength. Soon everyone in the City of Angels knew who Mara Salvatrucha.
2. 50 thousand people and 42 state
According to the FBI, there are now about 50 thousand gang members. MS-13 operates in 42 States.
Embed from Getty Images<iframe src="//embed.gettyimages.com/embed/469165368?et=REwVyqC8TD9OKj0KIR1LCQ&tld=com&sig=xut8hhTQ3ZVsubUwUV8ZIJEFRM8gUflRkf2_jzjgs9Q=&caption=true&ver=1″ scrolling=”no” frameborder=”0″ width=”594″ height=”396″ style=”display:inline-block;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;margin:0;”>
3. They made El Salvador one of the bloodiest countries in the world
The violence that MS-13. In El Salvador there is another gang — 18th Street Gang, or Barrio 18. Clashes between these two groups turned the country into a bloody massacre.
Some people think that in the US, high levels of violence. But the homicide rate in El Salvador exceeds the us rate of 22%.
4. Human trafficking
MS-13 makes money in different ways, including drug trafficking and people. They recruit young women migrants or simply kidnap women from Central America, forcing them to work as prostitutes.
5. The initiation ritual is cruel
To become a member of MS-13, first of all you need to kill someone from a rival gang. Then MS-13 will vote whether to allow you to join them. If the answer is «Yes», then you have to suffer a brutal beating at a time, as the gang members will slowly count to 13.
Embed from Getty Images
6. Deportation
When the wave of violence from gangs has swept the United States, was deported about 20 thousand members of MS-13. Of course, they continued their activities in the homeland, so the total number of gang members in the world has changed. Many later returned to the States.
7. A month of the murders
Once MS-13 and Barrio 18 signed a truce in El Salvador, but it did not last long. In the most violent period of confrontation between the gangs every day during the month, killing an average of 16 people.
8. They were trained in the war
What did MS-13 is so violent and well-trained – war. Some of them participated in the civil war in El Salvador and therefore easily trampled by a gang in the United States.
Embed from Getty Images
9. They have their own prison
In El Salvador, there are separate prison was built only for members of MS-13. The perimeter is guarded by the Salvadoran army, but inside there are no guards. The fact that the members of the gang would just kill any «outsider» and any guard. A prison built for 800 prisoners but was kept there for about 3 thousand people.
10. They’ll be back, if you can carry them
This, of course, of course, but not a sin and to remind. So July 13, 2003, near Washington, near the river, the gangsters from Mara Salvatrucha killed 17-year-old pregnant Brenda Paz. They learned that she, being a gang member, became an FBI informant and participated in the witness protection program.
11. Women in the gang
Women are beaten for not joining a gang, they have to sleep with whom they will tell. After that, women are often engaged in the sale of drugs, as it causes less suspicion. There is evidence that nearly 20% of gang members are female.
Embed from Getty Images
12. Tattoo
Members of MS-13 was originally covered themselves in tattoos almost from head to toe. For tattoos could be «considered» the information about the person. Now many members of Mara Salvatrucha refuse to tattoo for quite pragmatic reasons – so they are harder to recognize, memorize and discover.
13. The gesture of «goat»
Of course, not everyone who makes known among rockers the gesture of «goat» — the member of the gang MS-13. But the gesture of a street gang in El Salvador began to use in the beginning of the civil war in the country, Mara Salvatrucha also got his «adopted».
