World's 20 most feared criminal underworld gangs which even recruit from schools
A list has been compiled of he world's 20 most feared criminal underworld gangs. These criminal organisations have the most dangerous reputations and include notorious names like the Hells Angels, Aryan Brotherhood, Russian Mob, MS-13 and Triads.
Gangster Disciples
The gang's origins can be traced back to Chicago's South Side when the Supreme Gangsters and Black Disciples, joined forces in the 60s. The US military even had some members within its ranks. This became public when Airman Rico Williams and several others were imprisoned for the beating and murder of Army Sergeant Juwan Johnson in 2005.
M18 gang members looks out through the bars of the designated M18 'gang cage' (Getty Images)The 8th Street Gang
Its members start young and the gang sometimes recruiting kids schools. But the 18th Street Gang earned a reputation as one of the world's most dangerous criminal organisations. Crimes involved drugs, weapons, and human beings in Southern California, But many members worked in Mexico and Central America too. Its roots are in El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, but they have expanded their membership to other cultures provided the gang's code of respect is understood.
Mongols Motorcycle Club
This infamous motorcycle club are among the most well-known. The California-based gang has had numerous reported encounters with the law. One took place between groups of Mongols and Hells Angels at a Nevada casino in 2002. But they claim the group is no-longer a large scale criminal operation. This, however, does not change the Mongols' reputation which has previously included methamphetamine trafficking, robbery, extortion, and murder.
Kenyan police arrest suspected outlawed 'Mungiki' sect members in Nairobi (AFP via Getty Images)Jamaican Posse/Yardies
"Yardie" is used to describe to describe a Jamaican national but also refers to crowded living conditions in Kingston, Jamaica. But it can can also refer to the Jamaican Posse, a group of gangs which also operate in London, Toronto, and New York City. Drug trafficking violence and turf wars are most common. But the Jamaican Posses have been involved in localised political violence too.. The group is not organised, but is more clandestine without a central hierarchy..
'Inescapable' prison built so inmates can't access 'PlayStations and computers'
Russian Mob [aka Bratva]
There are said to be thousands of different factions of this gang in the former Soviet Union. But just around 200 have any influence outside the country. The origins of organised crime in Russia go back to the Tsarist era and the Russian Mob's crimes include smuggling, racketeering, extortion, and murder.
An ex member of the MS-13 gang is pictured at Santa Ana prison (AFP via Getty Images)Brigate Rosse [aka The Red Brigades]
Italy's Brigate Rosse, or "The Red Brigades" could also be defined as a terrorist group. A group of the same name terrorised Italy in the 1970s and 1980s with the same Far Left ideology which used robbery, kidnapping, and assassination to attack the State. Weapons and drugs were used but kidnapping and the murder of Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro in 1978 was their most infamous crime.
Hells Angels
Hells Angels are arguably arguably the most famous motorcycle group and have a fierce reputation, but their origins are debatable, Their profile exploded in the 1960s and ‘70s when their drugs, rock and counterculture activities rose to prominence. The group says any criminal actions, for which they were infamous, including murder and prostitution do not accurately reflect them as a whole. They now insist fundraising and charity efforts are proof they have cleaned up their act.
A group of women of Los Zetas drug cartel are presented to the press at the Mexican Navy headquarters (AFP via Getty Images)Vice Lords
The Almighty Vice Lord Nation, often shortened to simply "Vice Lords," claim to be one of the oldest street gangs in the Chicago area. They date back to a back to a youth detention centre in the late fifties which expanded in several neighbourhoods using protection rackets, money laundering, and fraud. They even received a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation in 1970. But their public persona and attempts to look respectable were debunked, resulting multiple arrests and imprisonments.
Aryan Brotherhood
This gang has members in and out of jail and their influence goes much further than prison walls. A white supremacist group, they have connections with various prisons and are known for inmate prostitution, drug smuggling and assault. They also arranged murders for those on the outside. The 'neo-Nazis' have also featured on TV shows including Sons of Anarchy and the film American History X.
Los Zetas
A separate cartel which was formed in Mexico when deserting soldiers needing work found employment with the Gulf Cartel, Los Zetas officially struck out on their own in 2010. The group has created a stir despite their relatively recent arrival on the world radar. They have been brutal against their rivals using beheadings and execution and become known for sex trafficking, protection rackets, drugs and murder.
A member of Los Zetas drug cartel, Edgar Huerta Montiel, aka' El Wache' (AFP via Getty Images)Sinaloa Cartel
This notorious Mexican outfit specializes in money laundering and trafficking. Drugs including cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines have all found their way into the US via the Sinaloa Cartel. The DEA even named the group as the 'most active smuggling and trafficking operation' for bringing drugs into the US. They are rivals with with the Tijuana Cartel, leading to deadly shootouts in Mexico.
Barrio Azteca
The Barrio Azteca gang are a southern gang which moved into the violent world of drug trafficking over the US and Mexico border. They are rivals of Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, but help provide the muscle to Juarez Cartel in its drug war. They will do almost anything to keep the fear and respect of others and their crimes have gone beyond trafficking and include kidnapping, auto theft and 'murder for hire'.
Mara Salvatrucha [aka MS-13]
Members of Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, have a reputation for vicious violence and are often heavily tattooed. They come from Central American where they were known to operate in El Salvador and were first used to protect LA-based Salvadorans against other gangs. Their crimes include larceny and human trafficking and child prostitution.
Kenichi Shinoda , the boss of Japan's largest 'yakuza' gang, the Yamaguchi-gumi (AFP via Getty Images)Latin Kings
This gang dates back to the 1950s and were formed to combat racial prejudice in Chicago. The Latin King group also has a splinter group called the Bloodline which became active in the New York City prison system in 1986. The are said to be similar to the Italian mafia and have a strict code followed by their members who moved from street poverty before becoming a criminal organisation.
Gangsters arrested in 'cartel' murder which saw teen mum and baby shot in head
Bloods & Crips
The Bloods and the Crips are known for their feuds and battle for control of their Los Angeles turf. The Crips were established in 1969 and early formations of the Bloods thereafter began fighting with them - their rivalry is legendary. They are said to be 'among the most violent of gangs' in America and are said to be involved in robbery, prostitution and murder.
Mungiki
The group are reportedly a mysterious and secretive sect and their aims are to reject Western influence and promote Kenyan tradition. The Mungiki attract younger members with extortion and murder on their charge list. They are said to be connected with police and government, who have been accused of being blind to their crimes in exchange for a share of the gang's profits.
The leader of Mexico's Sinaloa drug Cartel Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman (LatinContent via Getty Images)Medellìn Cartel
Pablo Escobar was famously the leader of the Medellìn Cartel who were huge traffickers of cocaine into the US. The cartel formed multiple smaller groups to deal with the anyone trying to curb their growth. They also received help from corrupt Columbian officials which allowed them to thrive. Even the threat of extradition to the US. could not prevent Escobar from keeping the cartel alive using assassination and violent terrorism. However, US pressure eventually told and Escobar lost much of his influence and protection, ultimately dying in a shootout with law enforcement members.
Triads
The Triads have gangs in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. But they also exist in the west where business include smuggling, forgery, pornography, kidnapping and murder. Nowadays they focus on white collar crimes and their members are involved in rituals with 36 oaths of honour as part of their initiation process.
Members of the Hells Angels motorcycle club ride across London Bridge (AFP via Getty Images)Yakuza (yah-KOO-zuh)
They are known for operations in Japan, but are also on an international scale. Their origins date to the 1600s, with rituals matching this time period. Various clans have been known to delve into sex trafficking, loan sharking and gun running
Sicilian Mafia [aka La Cosa Nostra]
La Cosa Nostra is arguably the most famous underworld organisation because of cinematic representations the Mafia has in films such as 'Goodfellas', 'Casino' and 'The Godfather' franchise. Its structure has shifted, but usually revolves around family groups. Clan rivalries and violence have always existed and gangland shootouts attract front page news. The Mafia's activities have included extortion, racketeering, smuggling and prostitution.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
