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Mara SalvatruchaMara Salvatrucha, MS-13 or "MS", is a street gang from El Salvador that emerged in the 1980s during that country's violent civil war. The word Mara comes from the Spanish word Marabundi, which is a type of ant. This word then evolved to mean posse in El Salvador, where salvatrucha was adescription of a tough young man. The "13" origins are not certain, but it may be from the letter "M", the thirteenth letter of alphabet, a frequently used letter in names fo Southern California Latino gangs, and used to distinguish it from the Northern California gangs, which use the number "14". The number "13" is also used symbolically in the gang's rites of passage. A final initiation of new recruits is a savage 13-second beating. Additionally, the 13 or 26 or 39 seconds punishment is used by MS-13 on its own members for failing to attack rival gangs upon encountering them. Beginnings The civil war in El Salvador prompted many families in that country to move to the United States in the late 1980s. Many Salvadoran refugees ended up in Los Angeles, California, and other surrounding areas. Salvadoran youths were not readily accepted by other Hispanics in the area and were often attacked by Mexicans in particular. In the Los Angeles area, the Salvadoreans formed MS-13 as a means of protecting themselves from other street gangs. MS-13 soon became involved in crimes such as drug and weapons trafficking, murder and rape. Geographical presence The age of an MS-13 member can range from 11 to 50. The gang has moved from beyond its Los Angeles origins and can be found in now 33 states throughout the United States of America, including California (besides Los Angeles), Washington DC, Oregon, Alaska, Texas, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and most recently, Rhode Island. MS-13 has also been active in Honduras, Guatemala, Canada and Mexico. Many MS-13 members are former guerrilla fighters from the Farabundo Mart National Liberation Front paramilitary group (FMLN). Members of this group have training in firearms, explosives and booby traps. There is no centralization or hierarchy among the gang from different regions, although a 2004 report by the National Drug Intelligence Center says chapters of MS-13 in different areas may be trying to set up a coordination network. When it first began in the U.S., MS-13 only allowed Salvadorans as members but today the gang now includes members from other Latin countries. MS-13 has some black members. Members are strongly encouraged to have tattoos to express their alligence to MS-13. Those who join are expected to remain members for life, and anyone who leaves the gang is placed under sentence of death. The U.S. law enforcement community considers MS-13 to be the most dangerous street gang in that country today. Gang markings MS-13 members have tattoos on most of their upper body, including the arms and face, with lettering done in Gothic style. The "MS" and "13" is always tattooed on them. Other tatoo marks include the letters "SUR" for sureo or "southerner", and pentagrams. Typical attire of members is blue and white pro sport jerseys, often with the number "13", (blue and white are national colors of El Salvador), bandanas, and Nike sneakers. + Methods of crime MS-13's criminal operations sometimes cross borders into other countries. The group also maintains close links with its the MS-13 faction back in El Salvador which equips MS-13 members in the USA with military firepower and hardware. The gang is also unusual in its methods of attack. MS-13 is very violent and has attacked with such aggression that hardened gang members of rival street gangs like the Bloods have gone to the police to ask for protection. MS-13 has also shown no fear of U.S. law enforcement. Where other gangs desperately avoid confrontations with law enforcement, MS-13 actively seeks out such confrontations. Members have threatened and attacked officers to avoid arrest or ambushed officers conducting surveillance operations. MS-13 members sometimes booby trap their vehicles and homes in an effort to maim or kill law enforcement officers that may stage a surprise raid on MS-13 members. In October, 2002, MS-13 members raped two teen deaf girls in Somerville, Massachusetts, one of those girls was confined to a wheelchair due to a neurological disorder. In May of 2004, gang members chased down a 16-year old of a rival gang and hacked four of his fingers off with machetes. In Long Island, New York, September, 2004, the bodies of two more MS-13 victims were found, one repeatedly stabbed to death, the other shot in the head. In December 2004, MS-13 members near San Pedro Sula, Honduras, encircled a bus on a crowded city street and opened fire with AK-47 assault rifles in a seemingly unprovoked attack. 28 people were killed, of whom 22 were women and children. Many cars stolen by MS-13 end up on the streets of El Salvador. In fact, U.S. law enforcement believes that as many as 80% of the cars being driven in El Salvador may have been stolen in the U.S. Suspected ties with Al-Qaida Law enforcement throughout the USA has begun to crackdown hard on MS-13 after it was rumored that members of the international Islamist terrorist group Al Qaida (القاعدة) has been in secret talks with members of MS-13 in Honduras and in Washington DC. Sworn enemies One group sworn to eradicate MS is the Sombra Negra ("Black Shadow") death squad. Sombra Negra is a extra judicial vigilante group made up of police and soliders in El Salvador. Sombra Negra hunts down and executes all types of criminals including MS-13 members. Ernesto Miranda, a.k.a. Smokey, who is a co-founder of the MS in Los Angeles left the gang and is helping children to stay out of gangs. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4539688 In March 2005, the United States government announced a crackdown on MS-13. 103 individuals were arrested in seven cities. External links
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