Top 10 notorious gangs

For most, crime is their ‘occupation’. These groups operate almost exclusively in the grey and illegal marketplace where market transactions are unregulated by the law. This time we are with a list of notable criminally-active street gangs.

10. Primeiro Comando da Capital (Brazil):

Founded in 1993 by inmates of Taubate Prison in Sao Paulo, PCC is involved in several criminal activities such as prison breaks, prison riots, drug trafficking, highway robbery and etc. Brazil’s prison system is noted for its severe overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, riots, prisoner-on-prisoner violence, and systematic use of torture and ill treatment. These conditions, says gang members, make membership in a gang virtually necessary for survival.

9. 18th Street Gang (Los Angeles):

The 18th Street gang was created in the late 1960s in the Rampart area of Los Angeles. They have been described as the most violent and aggressive street gang in the country. The 18th Street gang was the first Hispanic gang to break the racial membership barrier.  This willingness to step across racial lines allowed rapid and unchecked growth in the gang’s membership, which was largely composed of immigrants and multi-racial youths.

8. Area Boys (Nigeria):

Area boys (also known as Agberos) are loosely organized gangs of street children and teenagers, composed mostly of males (but with a few females), who roam the streets of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria. They extort  money from passers-by, sell illegal drugs, act as informal security guards, and perform other “odd jobs” in return for compensation. Their favorite hangouts are bus stops, major highways and markets. In broad daylight, they levy tolls on bus drivers, they demand bribes from market women wanting to set up stalls for the day, they patrol potential car-parking spaces and demand illegal fees from shoppers.

7. Aryan Brotherhood (California):

Formed in 1967, this notorious gang is concerned with White-Supremacy and self-protection from Black and Hispanic gangs. The AB has also used the Odinist religion to conduct gang meetings and disguise illicit business practices.  Older AB members learned the American Sign Language to communicate covertly.

6. The Bloods (Los Angeles):

Started in Los Angeles as a street gang in the 1960s, spread to Texas prisons in the 1980s. Besides serving the broader purpose of neighborhood protection, the Bloods street gang originally arose as an opposing force to their rivals the Crips. The Bloods are known to be involved in all forms of criminal activity, but are mostly known for drug sales.

5. Los Zetas (Mexico):

Los Zetas is a criminal organization in Mexico dedicated mostly to international illegal drug trade and other organized crime activities. This drug cartel was founded by a group of Mexican Army Special Forces. In many ways, these men innovated paramilitary tactics in use by organized crime today. Many agree that these men raised the bar in the Mexican criminal underworld, forcing Cardenas’ rivals to find former military soldiers of their own, just so they could compete.

4. The Crips (California):

The Crips are one of the oldest, largest and most notorious gangs in the United States. The Crips were founded by 15 year old Raymond Washington along with Stanley “Tookie” Williams and Avalon Gardens resident Jimel Barnes. Like the Bloods, because the Crips have no written constitution, they are officially labeled a “security threat group” in prison, not a gang.

3. The Mungiki (Kenya):

Mungiki is a politico-religious group and a banned criminal organization in Kenya. The name means “A united people” or “multitude” in the Kikuyu language. The religion, which apparently originated in the late 1980s, is secretive and bares some similarity to mystery religions. Mungiki operates most extensively in Mathare, Nairobi’s second largest slum, where poverty and crime are pronounced.

2. Texas Syndicate (Texas):

Founded in 1978, the Texas Syndicate had about 1,000 members in prisons and jails state-wide, with many more on the outside. The Texas Syndicate remained small in California but grew into Texas after members returned to the Lone Star state after serving their time in California. This deadly gang profits off intense drug trafficking, robbery, extortion and conducting contract murders.

1. MS – 13 (Central America):

The MS13 gang, aka Mara Salvatrucha 13, is one of the most violently dangerous gangs in the United States – and one of the most organized. Members typically range in age from 11 to 40 years old.  Their progressive increase in violent activities and careless disregard for the law (threats and attacks against law enforcement officials is common), has made them the most feared gang in the United States.  MS-13 criminal activities include drug smuggling, gun running, people smuggling, hits for hire, theft, drug sales, arson, and of course, strong arming the locals.

Written by: earthwit on August 30, 2010.