MS-13

MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s among Salvadoran immigrants and refugees.

MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s among Salvadoran immigrants and refugees. It later expanded across the United States, Central America, and beyond, and has been associated with violent crime, extortion, drug trafficking, and human smuggling. The gang is also known for its rivalry with the 18th Street gang. MS-13 has been reported as active beyond the United States and Central America, including Canada, which is relevant to Canadian law-enforcement and immigration policy discussions.

Origin and name

MS-13 formed in Los Angeles in the 1980s among Salvadoran immigrants who had fled civil conflict in El Salvador. The name Mara Salvatrucha is commonly explained as combining slang terms referring to a Salvadoran gang, and the number 13 is associated with the letter M.

Expansion and organization

The gang developed from local street-group beginnings into a transnational criminal network. Sources describe it as operating through loosely organized cliques and having members or affiliates across the United States and parts of Central America.

Criminal activity

MS-13 has been linked to a wide range of crimes, including extortion, drug trafficking, robbery, prostitution, murder, and human smuggling. It has gained a reputation for extreme violence in media and law-enforcement reporting.

Law-enforcement attention

MS-13 has been the subject of sustained law-enforcement and policy attention in the United States and Central America. U.S. government and congressional materials describe it as a major gang and transnational criminal organization.