Welcome to El Salvador Welcome to El Salvador on behalf of USMILGP - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

UNCLASSIFIED Welcome to El Salvador Welcome to El Salvador on behalf of USMILGP USMILGP- -ES ES on behalf of This briefing is unclassified This briefing is unclassified SFC Quintero, Leo SFC Quintero, Leo 8 Jan 2007 8 Jan 2007 Anti- -terrorism Officer terrorism Officer Anti UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED Welcome to El Salvador on behalf of COL Welcome to El Salvador on behalf of COL Santiago, MILGP CDR/USDR. Santiago, MILGP CDR/USDR. As the USDR, COL Santiago is the FP Officer for El Salvador As the USDR, COL Santiago is the FP Officer for El Salvador and has appointed SFC Quintero as the MILGP FPO/ATO and has appointed SFC Quintero as the MILGP FPO/ATO and assigned FP responsibilities for the security/FP of DOD and assigned FP responsibilities for the security/FP of DOD personnel in- personnel in -transit or TDY in El Salvador. transit or TDY in El Salvador. UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED Agenda Agenda � History History � � Presence of Gangs in El Salvador Presence of Gangs in El Salvador � � Criminal Activities Criminal Activities � � Structure / Chain of Command Structure / Chain of Command � � Communication Communication � 18st Written Communication � 18st Written Communication � Hand Signal Communication � Hand Signal Communication � GRAFFITIS � GRAFFITIS � Tattoos � Tattoos � � Sumary Sumary � � Questions Questions / / Comments Comments � UNCLASSIFIED

History History UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

Street Gangs in El Salvador Street Gangs in El Salvador UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED History History � Maras Maras emerged out of the conflicts during the 1970s emerged out of the conflicts during the 1970s � & 80s in Central America. In the context of the wars & 80s in Central America. In the context of the wars and insurgencies in El Salvador, Guatemala, and and insurgencies in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, thousands of people, including young Nicaragua, thousands of people, including young men fled North, many which had training on guns as men fled North, many which had training on guns as well as armed combat techniques. well as armed combat techniques. � In Los Angeles they encountered rejection by other In Los Angeles they encountered rejection by other � Hispanic communities and found it difficult to find Hispanic communities and found it difficult to find work and socialize; a percentage of these young work and socialize; a percentage of these young men, especially those from El Salvador where part of men, especially those from El Salvador where part of the insurgency/ civil war back home and joined the the insurgency/ civil war back home and joined the 18th Street Gang from LA, which was started by 18th Street Gang from LA, which was started by Mexicans and expanded to other Hispanics, African- - Mexicans and expanded to other Hispanics, African Americans, and Asians. Americans, and Asians. � Salvadorians Salvadorians founded the Mara Salvatrucha, to founded the Mara Salvatrucha, to � compete with the former, considering the compete with the former, considering the Salvadorans in 18st and other gangs in the barrios of Salvadorans in 18st and other gangs in the barrios of Los Angeles traitors. Los Angeles traitors. UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED History (Cont) History (Cont) � They gave themselves the number thirteen, in line with They gave themselves the number thirteen, in line with � 13th. Street. Like in the past currently most maras maras are are 13th. Street. Like in the past currently most involved in criminal activities in one form or another. When involved in criminal activities in one form or another. When they get caught in these acts they are sent to prison. In they get caught in these acts they are sent to prison. In prison these gang members further define their criminal prison these gang members further define their criminal tactics and networks. tactics and networks. � The terms The terms pandillas pandillas and and clicas clicas are often used are often used � interchangeably. All maras maras are are pandillas pandillas but not vice versa. but not vice versa. interchangeably. All Mara Salvatrucha, or MS- -13, already fully formed in Los 13, already fully formed in Los Mara Salvatrucha, or MS Angeles, was established in San Salvador in 1992 by the Angeles, was established in San Salvador in 1992 by the clicas (cliques, cells, or groups) deported from the United (cliques, cells, or groups) deported from the United clicas States and replacing earlier, less violent, and less States and replacing earlier, less violent, and less sophisticated gangs. M- -18 was established in El Salvador 18 was established in El Salvador sophisticated gangs. M in 1996 with three clicas clicas. Today both . Today both maras maras are spread are spread in 1996 with three across all departments. across all departments. UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED History (Cont) History (Cont) � In El Salvador there are approximately 11,000 active members In El Salvador there are approximately 11,000 active members � divided among MS- -13 (7,000), M 13 (7,000), M- -18 (4,000), and others (200). 18 (4,000), and others (200). divided among MS According to the PNC, the membership numbers for all the countries According to the PNC, the membership numbers for all the countri es in the region are as follows: Honduras (36,000 in 112 groups); in the region are as follows: Honduras (36,000 in 112 groups); Guatemala (14,000 in 434 groups); El Salvador (11,000 in 4); Guatemala (14,000 in 434 groups); El Salvador (11,000 in 4); Nicaragua (4,500 in 268); Costa Rica (2,700 in 6); Panama (1,400 in in Nicaragua (4,500 in 268); Costa Rica (2,700 in 6); Panama (1,400 94); and Belize (100 in 2 groups), for a regional total of 69,145 in 94); and Belize (100 in 2 groups), for a regional total of 69,14 5 in 920 groups. MS- -13 and M 13 and M- -18 are found in all but Costa Rica and 18 are found in all but Costa Rica and 920 groups. MS Panama. Panama. � There There are, in are, in addition addition, , others others in in the the different different countries countries: Costa Rica : Costa Rica � (Los Chapulines); Guatemala (Los Cholos, Los Nicas Nicas, , and and Los Los (Los Chapulines); Guatemala (Los Cholos, Los Batos Locos); El Salvador (La Mao Batos Locos); El Salvador (La Mao Mao Mao, La Maquina, , La Maquina, and and others others); ); Honduras (La Mao Mao Mao Mao, Los Batos locos, , Los Batos locos, and and Los Los Rockeros Rockeros); ); Honduras (La Nicaragua (Gerber Gerber Boys Boys and and Los Los Charly Charly). ). The The maras maras are not only a are not only a Nicaragua ( Central America regional phenomenon; rather they are Central America regional phenomenon; rather they are transnational. The MS- transnational. The MS -13, for example, reportedly has 20,000 13, for example, reportedly has 20,000 members in the United States and 4,000 members in Canada, for a members in the United States and 4,000 members in Canada, for a total of 96,000 in the hemisphere. It shouldn’t be surprising that the at the total of 96,000 in the hemisphere. It shouldn’t be surprising th numbers are variable. Mara membership is dynamic and census- - numbers are variable. Mara membership is dynamic and census taking is rudimentary. taking is rudimentary. UNCLASSIFIED

Presence Of Gangs Presence Of Gangs In El Salvador In El Salvador UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED Presence Of Gangs In El Presence Of Gangs In El Salvador Salvador NOMBRE CANTIDAD SIMBOLOGIA MS13 7321 18 4117 HONDURAS HONDURAS GUATEMALA GUATEMALA MAO MAO 30 OTRAS 116 CHALATENANGO CHALATENANGO SANTA ANA SANTA ANA CABAÑAS CABAÑAS MORAZÁN MORAZÁN AHUACHAPÁN AHUACHAPÁN CUSCATLÁN CUSCATLÁN LA LIBERTAD LA LIBERTAD SONSONATE SONSONATE SAN SALVADOR SAN SALVADOR SAN VICENTE SAN VICENTE LA UNIÓN LA UNIÓN SAN MIGUEL SAN MIGUEL LA PAZ LA PAZ USULUTÁN USULUTÁN Exists an approximate of 11,584 Exists an approximate of 11,584 racketeers and 375 375 identified identified clicas clicas racketeers and at the national level. at the national level. NICARAGUA NICARAGUA Courtesy of the PNC Courtesy of the PNC Geo Geo 20,720 20,720 20,720 km2 km2 km2 Geo Geo 20,720 km2 UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLASSIFIED These Are Are Some Some Samples Samples Of Of These Homicide Cases In El Salvador Cases In El Salvador Homicide 04Dec02 10Dec02 13Jan03 04Jul03 13Mar03 12Jul03 15Dec02 09Mar03 09Mar03 14Aug03 31Jan03 07/02/03 28/02/03 16/03/03 31/01/03 UNCLASSIFIED