Photographic work by Gokhan Altintas Photography
The Mara Salvatrucha (abbreviated as MS-13, MS or Mara) is a gang of tens of thousands of members that emerged in the 1970s and 1980s in Los Angeles to protect Salvadoran immigrants from other gangs in the area. Over time, the organization evolved into a more traditional criminal organization and is now known for its cruelty and rivalry with the 18th Street Gang. It is involved in criminal activities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and Spain.
After the end of the civil war in El Salvador in 1992, many members of MS-13 were sent back to El Salvador. Others are sent back after their arrest; these trips by gang members facilitate its export throughoutCentral America. As of 2018, the organization has about 10,000 members in the United States, less than 1% of gang members in the country, and a similar share of murders committed by its members.
Do you know the
Vatos Locos
? Hold on tight because you may be shaking…
So yes, the Vatos Locos are a street gang in many American states, Colombia as well as the European Union. Created in 1940, in
Los Angeles
by Mexicans and Mexican-Americans and eventually spread to New York and the European Union over the years.
The Vatos Locos gang members consider themselves a nation with certain commonalities, and their criminal activities include intimidation of students, drug trafficking and use, armed robbery and rape (yes, that’s a lot).
