What are the most dangerous and powerful gangs currently operating in Los Angeles, and which ones control the biggest territories?
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I would say MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha). They are active in various parts, such as the San Fernando Valley (especially Fulton clique in Panorama City/Reseda area), MacArthur Park vicinity (Francis clique), Koreatown, Pico Union and have other scattered cliques across the city.
They have between 700 and 800 active members. Fifteen years ago, they had 1000 plus members. Advanced survuĂlance is taking a toll on almost every gang in L.A…
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Right. My first thought was the Mexican Mafia. It’s not a traditional street gang with one fixed turf, but almost all major Latino street gangs (including 18th Street, many MS-13 cliques, Avenues, Florencia 13, Rancho San Pedro, etc.) pay “taxes” to them. They mostly operate out of prisons. Their goal is to make money, not to draw attention.
If we talk about “normal gangs”, I am with you.
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MS 13 and 18th Street.. yeah.
The Crips are also still huge in Watts, South LA (Harvard Park, Chesterfield Square, Vermont-Slauson areas), the Figueroa Corridor, and nearby South LA neighborhoods. These territories remain heavily involved in narcotics, shootings, and territorial disputes.
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SĂ, amigo. Mostly between Crips, Bloods plus rival Latino gangs. Especially in Watts, Compton, South Central.. as they are fighting for control over key housing projects.
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Sometimes it’s straight turf. Sometimes it’s over drugs or just old beef that never dies. But a lot of the time the racial angle is sitting right there under the surface.
That said, plenty of Latino crews have Black members and vice versa. I have a friend from high school who was gangbanging for some years. I heard some interesting stories.
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The gangs on the Westside are pretty lame. The police crack down on them every time they show up. That's what's wanted. Keep these neighborhoods clean and safe, while the rest battle it out. Just like in GTA.
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