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Mara Salvatrucha is a Los Angeles-based, predominantly Salvadoran, gang that is also active in Central America. The gang's name is commonly abbreviated as MS-13, Mara, MS, or "posse," and is composed of Salvatruchas. Its name suggests the meaning of "street-tough Salvadorans" in the Spanish language. Although the gang was made by Hispanic people, the gang now includes African-Americans and occasionally Caucasian members. The age of a Mara Salvatrucha member can range from 8 to 50. Though the gang is mostly made up of men and boys, some girls join the gang as well, although this is rare. The gang originated among Salvadoran emigrants living in Los Angeles but it has since spread to other parts of North America. Another huge part of "MS-13," is in Philadelphia, NYC borough of Queens, Tampa and primarily emerging in Andover, a small city north of Boston. It emerged in the 1980s during El Salvador's violent civil war and is estimated as of 2005 to have 50,000 members in Central America and between 8,000 and 10,000 members in the United States The "13" is a gang number associated with southern California and also signifies the thirteen rules that the gang follows.
The name and influences
The word "mara" means gang in Salvadoran "Caliche", and is taken from the name of a local type of ant known for its fierce behavior and defense of the colony. "Salvatrucha" is a portmanteau of Salvadoran and trucha (literally trout) a local Salvadoran-Spanish slang for being alert, vigilant, at the ready (usually entailing preparedness for crime, or abuse from police): "El significado de salvatrucha es ponerse listo, trucha, abusado" *. There is speculation though unclear evidence, that they have adopted the number 13 in their name as a reference to their roots in Los Angeles. "Mara Salvatrucha" is also commonly translated as "Salvadoran Gang," identifying the gang's roots in guerilla-trained partisans within El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Members of this group control much of the rail and roadways in these areas, transporting contraband, weapons, illegals, and other cargo throughout the Americas.
Geographical presence
Although founded among immigrants in the United States, Mara Salvatrucha now has a large presence in El Salvador. Much of this is due to the United States policy of deporting convicted criminals back to their country of origin. Back in El Salvador, these deportees have recruited more members, including new members who emigrate illegally to the United States.
The gangs have moved from beyond their Salvadoran, Mexican and Los Angeles origins and can be found now in Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Canada, Mexico, and over 30 U.S. states, in New Orleans around Washington, DC in the Maryland and Virginia suburbs, and especially in Long Island, New York. Some sets have even been founded in Spain, Italy, and Belgium. Not many of the founding members remain, and the original purpose of forming the MS-13 has become lost with time and transformed into a common criminal gang with a peculiar structure. Many original members belonged to left-wing insurgent groups and right-wing death squads who degenerated into criminal activity after the end of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1992 and joined MS-13 for various reasons. MS-13 is known for accepting black members. Members of these various groups have training in firearms, explosives, and booby traps. There is no centralization or hierarchy among the gang from different regions. A 2004 report by the U.S. National Drug Intelligence Center says chapters of Mara Salvatrucha in different areas may be trying to set up a coordination network. In 2005, police in Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., noticed an increase in the presence of the gang, including incidents of gang-related stabbings and other violence. Members are strongly encouraged to have tattoos to express their allegiance to Mara Salvatrucha. One of the two founders of MS-13 was shot 10 times and murdered in May of 2006 in his home in El Salvador. A few hours earlier he had declined an invitation to attend a party for a gang member who had just been released from prison. He had renounced violence but still had ties to the gang. (New York Times 5/17/2006)
Gang markings
MS-13 members have tattoos on most of their upper body, including the arms and face, with lettering done in Gothic (Blackletter) style. The "MS" and "13" is always tattooed on them. (This has resulted in the arrest and detention of many people, first in Honduras then in El Salvador for illicit association based entirely on the fact that they are wearing tattoos associated with gang membership.) Other tattoos include also the comedy and tragedy faces are claimed as the phrase "laugh now cry later" always with the smiling one up an on the right, three dots on the left hand (between index and thumb), and lastly the letters "M" and "S" on either top eyelid (a more blunt symbol). A shaved head with a goatee beard is also popular. A crooked-finger "M" sign, often detailed in skeletal fingers, is also a popular MS-13 sign.
Colors claimed are black, dark tan, and desert camo. East Coast members wear blue and white, taken from the El Salvadorian flag. Their pants are not sagged but very baggy and always, tan or brown. The main brand is "Dickies", which are nailed in to the back of the shoe so not to get them dirty. Black bandanas are tied around either wrist with the tied end on the underside of the wrist. Also gang members wear shirts with “South Side” or “Laugh Now Cry Later” on their backs.
Along with the number 13 some "Posers" (people claiming affiliation with a specific group of people, but just say such to "fit in" or be "in crowd") claim the number 31, which may or may not be a "real" gang, but most "members" are young adults or children.
Deportation
One of the ways in which the MS 13 has grown and spread has been through United States deportation policy. The United States has a policy of deporting non-citizens convicted of felonies to their country of origin. Salvadoran members of MS 13 were and are deported to El Salvador, where they recruit more members. Many guards in Salvadorean prisons are easily corrupted through bribes, or are forcefully coerced to release the recently deported MS 13 members.
Organized Crime
MS does business in illegal immigrant trafficking over the border (the Spanish term for this is being a coyote), as well as carrying drugs, weapons, and other munitions. Many members in the United States have been illegally smuggled into the country. Many gang leaders go to small towns and beat up young men and boys until they join. MS also does business in narcotics, arms dealing, prostitution, and theft/robbery. Recently in June 2006 a report out of California confirmed that for a member to be sworn into the gang the member would have to assault or even kill an African-American female.
Sometimes, the business varies in region. A member on the West Coast might be arrested for hijacking a car while members on the East Coast are captured for gang-on-gang violence, maybe due to rivalries with Mexican and other Hispanic groups.
MS-13's well-coordinated communications network allows a member to request assistance from another member from outside of their area. If a member in Florida is harassed or angered, they may call on fellow Maras from California to come to Florida and kill or maim the target of their anger - often targeting family and friends of the target as well, in order to drive the point home. Because the enactors of these attacks then leave the area and return to their normal grounds, law enforcement efforts at perpetrator identification yield few clues. The active participants are unknown and not seen in the same area again, while multi-state distribution of sketches or photos may not even reach the enactors' home state. The combination of mobility and communication complicate law enforcement efforts dealing with members of MS-13.
False rumored ties with Al-Qaeda
Law enforcement throughout the United States began to crack down hard on MS-13 after it was rumored that members of the international Islamic terrorism group Al-Qaeda (القاعدة) had been in secret talks with members of MS-13 in Honduras and in Washington D.C..
After thorough investigation, the FBI has found no evidence that any links between al-Qaeda and MS-13 exist.
Rumoured enemies
- Mexican Mafia
- Ernesto "Smokey" Miranda, a co-founder of the MS in Los Angeles, left the gang and was helping children to stay out of gangs. *. He was gunned down on May 16, 2006, outside of his home in El Salvador.
- In March 2005, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a crackdown on MS-13. 103 individuals were arrested in seven cities.
- MS-13 members sometimes attack 18th Street gang members. It is the chief rival of the gang in El Salvador.
- In August 2005, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced that gangs are "a threat to our homeland security and * a very urgent law enforcement priority." Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested 1,057 gang members, 582 of whom are members of MS-13.
- In September 2005, a two-day sting involving more than 6,400 government agents from the United States, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico produced the arrests of close to 660 members of MS-13.
- US Border Patrol
Links http://www.knowgangs.com/gang_resources/ms/
Notes
- Davis, Peter. At the edges of empire. The Nation, vol. 281, no. 2, 11 July, 2005, 16-20. p.17.
- ibid.
"Mara Salvatrucha"