MS 13 Info Needed

[sm]

Mara Salvatrucha 13.

Moderators - Perhaps this is not really S&T , then again Situational Awareness is pertinent to us all. I apologize if this is on 'thin ice".

I'm kinda out of the loop. Teoma and other searchs did not provide exactly what I'm interested in.

Looking for more information on MS 13. I would appreciate any LEO with information or experiences sharing.

In the real world , carrying out Activities of Daily Living ( ADL) we are exposed to all sorts of things. Perhaps being better educated will help and assist our Situational Awareness. I for one would gain from knowing.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Fred Fuller]

Steve,

Some bad boys, they like machetes. Haven't seen any tagging around here that indicates a presence (yet) but it wouldn't surprise me at all given the large Latino population hereabouts. Keep watching your six,

lpl/nc
=====

http://wjz.com/localstories/local_story_073134745.html

http://www.gangunit.com/links.htm

http://www.nagia.org/mara_salvatrucha.htm

http://www.the-solution.org/ms13.htm

http://www.americas.org/item_18222

 

[mtnbkr]

There have been several machete attacks in Northern Virginia attributed to them. Their leadership recently put out word that they intend to kill Fairfax cops for sport (my words, not theirs). I've been in NoVa for the past 9 years and I've never had a problem though.

Chris

 

[VARifleman]

They're pretty big in Springfield, as there are so many Salvadorans that they just blend in. They have everyone there worried though (obviously). I remember them killing a former member who went to the police to report their activities, dumped her in the Shenanndoah.

 

[armoredman]

Very violent prison gang. They have announced they are going to "teach the Americans a lesson" in relation to the MinuteMan Project of 900 volunteers watching part of the AZ/Mex border. Personally, I say they are like all thugs - brave in groups, violent to the weak, and cowardly filth who spread drugs and corruption where ever they slime into.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

Mara Salvatrucha

Run forrest, RUN!

http://www.8bm.com/diatribes/volume02/diatribes028/diatribes567-587/diatribes574.htm

 

[Kharn]

Anyone have a picture of what their tag looks like?

Kharn

 

[Harry Tuttle]

The MS members identify themselves with a number of different ‘tags’ or tattoos. A number “13†or variation of the two digits “1†and “3,†the word suerno [southerner] or sur, an abbreviation of the same word. These terms reference the fact that MS members like to claim their home as Southern California, as Northern California is the territory of rival gangs. Other common tags are “M†or “MSâ€. Many of these will often be worn at once, but it is important to note that there is no single “signature†that always uniquely identifies an MS13 member. The 13 and sur tattoos are relatively common among Hispanic gangs, including prison gangs both inside and outside of California. A more reliable indicator would be a combination of known symbols and tags.

http://www.gangsorus.com/marasalvatrucha13.htm

Around DC, i see rapidly scrawled spraypaint MS13s

here ya go:
http://vgia.org/graffiti/

 

[jamz]

Anyone have a picture of what their tag looks like?

Kharn

Yeah, it looks something like this:

If you see that, you'd better RUN!!



-James

 

[Bob F.]

Very interesting post. Didn't know about them. Probably pretty safe here except for the Interstates (ya' never know); but dau & family north of c'ville!

Thanks.
And stay safe.
Bob

 

[armoredman]

Don't confuse the M13 with the Surenos and Nortenos, two distict prison gangs affiliated with several other gangs in and out of prison.
Ths isn't quite what you were looking for, but anyone interested in prison ganga, here is a good first look....http://www.azcorrections.gov/STG/STGMenu.htm

 

[sm]

I appreciate all the links and input.
I really appreciate some information provided to me off-line - you folks know who you are.

For folks that asked , yes I have a particular reason for inquiring, yes I am watching six. Granted I did drive around just see some areas for education purposes. Dat was interesting.

I used to have some Local LEOs that I knew and exhanged info with. These folks have moved on to retirement or moved on in thier careers. I also at one time had access to and did visit with gang members, some were getting out of gangs and I can't reveal more. I'll just say quite educational.

"Gangs" is a word that like so many has changed with the times. I recall a "Shorty" explaining that the bowling team, the Friday nite poker group, or the ladies Thursday prayer and breakfast were "gangs" as well.

His "group" , " afflitation" , "involvement" - any term one wanted to use - was just a "gang" of folks that believed in the same thing and did these things as a whole. Interesting perspective I thought, his point was the word "gang" was no more evil in itself than the word "gun". This young man actually told a bunch of parents - "The intent of the user or participants dictate the connotation of a word". I thought the parents were gonna flip out.

So MS 13 does cross racial, cultural boundries. They do have different factions therein that focus on specific tasks and do have ties "back home". Very diversified and very very well organized.

Since "one never knows..." I thought it best to be even more aware of what the heck is out and about in the world around me.

I need to find a local LEO buddy or two as well I figure. Never hurts to exchange and converse - both sides learn from each other.

Regards,

Steve

 

[Spreadfire Arms]

if my memory serves me correctly:

13 is for the 13th letter of the alphabet, which is the letter "M". Original meaning was for the "Mexican Mafia," a S. California prison gang. So you will see all kinds of renditions of this, such as roman numerals "XIII" or "X3" or "Trece." Sometimes you'll just see "Eme," which is the pronounciation of the letter "M" in Spanish. they claim the color blue and are referred to as "Surenos." some of the "blue" street gangs have affiliation with the "Crips" and when challenging someone on the street they will throw a "crip" sign, which is the hand made into the shape of a "C" using their thumb and all four fingers to make a "C." Crips refer to each other as "cuzz" or "C-Dog" [crip-dog].

14 is for the 14th letter of the alphabet, whihc is the letter "N." Original meaning was for "Nuestra Familia," a N. California prison gang. They also use roman numerals such as "XIV," "X4," or "Catorce." Sometimes you'll just see "Ene," which is the pronounciation of the letter "N" in Spanish. they claim the color red are are referred to as "Nortenos." some of the "red" street gangs have affiliation with the "Bloods" and "Pirus" and when challenging someone on the street they will throw a "blood" sign, which is the hand made into the shape of a "b" [lower case] using their thumb and index finger to form a ring (the lower half of the letter "b") and keep all three fingers (ring, middle, and little) extended straight out (the upper half of the letter "b").

to the extreme, some of these gang members will substitute the letter "c" or "b" of the opposing gang in their normal conversation or in writing.

for example, a "Blood" gang member may ask for a "bigarette." (replaced the "c" with a "b").

some gang members will be very subtle about their affiliation. i saw one Norteno in the Bay Area with five red beads on his shoes to show his "14" affiliation: one red bead on his right shoe ("1") and four red beads on his left shoe ("4").

thats my crash course in street gangs!

 

[sm]

Granted I have admitted not being all that smart , but I can really be dumb at times. You don't have to reply to that

Guess who let his S.W.A.T subscription laspe? Did you know our own Erick Gelhaus wrote a good article on gangs in the Oct. 2003 issue?

Guess who will be re-newing / subscribing to a certain magazine. Guess who will be getting a back issue of Oct. 2003 , or least a PDF copy?

Thanks Denny.

psst...when did you guys put a Search feature on the SWAT site? That sucker is downright handy. I hope Rich falls out of his chair laughing btw

 

[mete]

Remember that you have Congress to thank for this since they refuse to do anything about illegal immigration !!!

 

[Mannlicher]

If they look like Mexicans, but smaller, and a little darker, and they have lots of tats, they probably are MS13 guys. Down here in Miami, they are all around. Keep your eyes open, and be prepared. Oh, there will be multiple targets if they get assy.

 

[chris in va]

We call Manassas VA 'El Salvador' now with all the illegals/work permits. MS-13 is really gaining strength. I can't wait to move out of here.

 

[Denny Hansen]

Two of our authors who train with with some high-speed types in South America were recently working with the Unidad Tactica Operativa in El Salvador. There will be a complete report on Mara Salvatruchas (MS-13) in the August issue of S.W.A.T.

Not tryin' to make a sales pitch, just FYI.

Denny

 

[foghornl]

Visit this website:

www.knowgangs.com

then click on 'resources' and then 'gangs'

quite a bit of info on all sorts of 'groups with felonious intent'

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

Here's a modest proposal for MS-13 etc

The Marines and Navy have always operated under different rules than the Army or AF when it came to civvie law enforcement; I believe this actually dates back to the age of Nelson. Pirates were the sea services' problem, not the concern of civil authorities; so the sea services were allowed to act against criminals without intermediaries.

I see these people as "pirates sans bateaus" (without boats). For all the hullaballoo made about their viciousness and cunning, would you really give them a snowball's chance in hell against a Marine task force designed to break up these gangs and capture/kill these gangstas?

Admittedly we don't have the free assets now, but the war won't go on forever, and these gangs won't be disappearing either; no offense to the LEOs who read this, but how long have the Crips and Bloods survived despite the best efforts of police forces?

If gangs can adapt terrorist tactics and strategy (i.e. the MS-13 cell structure), why not employ military assets designed to fight these tactics when legally and logistically possible...



I'm sure this could never happen, just venting. Nomex on anyway

 

[psyopspec]

Actually BoyScout, I'd bet most of the Marine Reservists I know would love to spend their two weeks of Annual Training on a mission like that. Interesting thread btw, thanks to all who've contributed.

 

[TonkinTwentyMil]

Call In The Marines?

TLBoyScout, as a Veteran, I applaud your faith in our military to resolve certain "problems." However, I have MAJOR concerns when those assigned "problems" are not foreign, but domestic.

Aside from a raft of Constitutional issues (starting with the (Posse Comitatus law), do you really want to set a big-time precedent wherein the military is deployed to "fix" domestic problems? Problems that should rightfully fall to LOCAL (not Federal) law enforcement? Shades of Bill Clinton and Janet Reno's Federal-power-abusing WACO debacle!

Beyond that, what about (*ahem*) President Hillary and Attorney General Chuckie Schumer using such a precedent to Call In The Marines to enforce the "Evil Semi-Automatic Assault/Sniper/Mass-Schoolyard-Killer-Weapons Confiscation Act" of 2010... when a few million of us fail to comply and turn in our guns... For The Children?

MS-13 and other gang problems are thorny, but they're ultimately fixable by (a) effective state and local law enforcement, (2) a president and Congress willing to actually do something about our borders and illegal immigration problems, and (3) armed citizens pulling the trigger on these tattoo'd S**tbirds if/when they whip out their machetes on said citizens' pathways.

 

[Ivy Mike]

to those who represent MS-13, I have one thing to say to you...


AK-74.


nuff said