Mara Salvatrucha MS-13: organization and operations

MS-13 and International Terrorism

The Mara Salvatrucha or MS-13 gang has been committing acts of terror for nearly two decades. The gang has its roots in El Salvador, starting as a street gang and eventually becoming one of the largest and most violent Central American terrorist groups in existence. Like their American counterparts, Central American street gangs off struggling youths the security of being part of a larger group as well as the financial and emotional security that often rivals what they have at home. For thousands of youths, MS-13 is not only a way of life, but instead a code of conduct where loyalty, terror, and violence take precedence over respect and understanding. The gang is known for its particularly violent acts of terror, where the victims are randomly chosen, and where the terrorist acts are committed by boys in their early teens (Castro, 2005).

Members are beat into the gang, in a sort of ceremonial hazing whereby a recruit is put through a tough physical test of will and strength (Castro, 2005). Once the recruit passes their initial test, they are often asked to carry out a loyalty killing. These killings often function to both initiate the new member into the MS-13 society but also allow the new member to become comfortable with killing another human. Members who fail to carry out these missions, or who chose to work with law enforcement to identify other gang members are frequently killed to prevent them from attempting to leave the gang or commit a treasonous act. The viciousness and brutality that the MS-13 gang shows towards out of favor members as well as rival gangs is internationally known and respected. MS-13 gang members represent some of the most feared individuals in Central America.

MS-13 members typically identify themselves and each other through tattoos and gang signs. Most members have the letters "MS" or the number "13" tattooed somewhere on their body, usually in a very prominent place or directly over their heart (Castro, 2005). The gang's colors are blue and white, which were taken from the El Salvadorian flag, and which represent the gang's Central American roots. It is common for the gang to operate out of state and federal penitentiaries, as its power structure does not rely on direct communication, but often employs a system of codes both written and verbal to carry out its missions. This alone makes the MS-13 gang extremely difficult to track and predict, especially when members arrive in the U.S.

The Rise of MS-13 in El Salvador

MS-13 began in El Salvador in the 1980's during the country's Civil War (Arana, 2005). The guerilla fighters were able to band together, in a structure similar to the current MS-13 structure in a struggle for survival and military success. Many of the gang's original members fought in the El Salvadorian civil war, where they learned how to expertly use explosives, booby-traps, weapons, and terrorist and guerilla tactics to defeat their enemies. One of the most violent and ruthless street gangs during the civil war, called La Mara, represents the MS-13's namesake, and has provided the latter-day gang with many veteran fighters from El Salvadorian villages and towns (Castro, 2005). Their battle-hardened status as well as their knack for carrying-out extremely bloody and effective terrorist attacks has given MS-13 its reputation. The gang has since spread to neighboring Honduras, Mexico, and Guatemala, where offshoots have held a terrorist monopoly on drug and weapons smuggling operations as well as the movement of illegal aliens into the U.S. And Canada. Originally, only El Salvadorians could become members of MS-13, but that rule has since been thrown out in favor of unimpeded growth and diversity within the gang (Castro, 2005).

The rise of gangs in nearly any social environment can be traced back to the basic human needs for survival and belonging. Other factors, such as high levels of local poverty, a poorly educated citizenry, and the potential for financial gain through black market operations all serve to create a breeding ground for both street gangs, like MS-13 and for international terror (Arana, 2005). In many instances, children as young as seven or eight years old, who have little hope of success outside their ghetto, are attracted to the MS-13 lifestyle of glorified killing and brotherhood ties that run deeper than those found in most families. For others, the MS-13 lifestyle is an attractive path to personal and family protection. Rival street gangs who harass citizens often find that they are the victims of retaliation in the form of rival gang attacks. Just like the mafia of old, MS-13 offers its members and member's friends and families the comfort of personal protection.

MS-13 and Al-Qaeda

In September 2004, U.S. law enforcement agents were surprised to learn that Al-Qaeda had begun communicating with some of the higher-ranking members of MS-13 in an attempt to recruit gang members to smuggle Al-Qaeda operatives across the U.S.-Mexico border with plans to carry out acts of terrorism within the United States (Seper, 2004). What makes this especially frightening is the fact that Al-Qaeda, a terrorist organization made up almost entirely of middle-eastern Muslim extremists, was beginning to see the potential for catastrophic terror attacks carried out on U.S. soil with the help of gang members who were likely living in the U.S. And who were very much used to the notion that the level of violence used in a terrorist attack is directly related to the attack's effectiveness at scaring the entire population of a country or region. The MS-13 gang had built such a reputation for mass murder, terror, and indiscriminant violence, that high-ranking members of Al-Qaeda, the same terrorists who had successfully planned and carried out the 9/11 attacks, were recruiting them.

Since the MS-13 gang is so very well entrenched in the smuggling business on the U.S.'s southern border, it was quite predictable that Al-Qaeda would turn to them for help. Al-Qaeda was hoping to take advantage of the MS-13 gang's smuggling operation, just across the border from Brownsville, Texas. A large Department of Homeland Security detention center, based in the Texas town has been known to release formerly held foreign nations onto U.S. soil instead of returning them to their home country (Seper, 2004). Since MS-13 was familiar with this practice, it had tipped Al-Qaeda off to the potential for smuggling Al-Qaeda operatives as well as weapons and contraband provided by members of MS-13 into the United States. The operation was unsuccessful largely due to the fact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents as well as the FBI were made aware of Al Qaeda's plans, but the potential collaboration is a reminder that the MS-13 is an international player in the world of terrorism. Now that Al-Qaeda has contacts in the MS-13 organization, there is a very real fear that the two terrorists groups will work together in the future (Roorda and Hughbank, 2008). Perhaps the next time they come together it will be more successful and far bloodier.

MS-13 in Central America Today: Narco-Terrorism

Presently there are approximately 10,000 to 20,000 MS-13 gang members in El Salvador (Manwaring, 2008). These numbers represent a rough estimate, but law enforcement officials in that country have only recently begun to clearly identify the gang and act to incarcerate the highest level members. Most of the gang's activities in El Salvador revolve around the drug trade. MS-13 members have been known to work with Columbian drug lords to help protect shipments of cocaine and other substances as they made their way from South and Central America to the United States and other countries (Manwaring, 2008). Their unique position and inner workings have recently earned MS-13 a spot on the U.S. Military's list of Narco-Terrorist Organizations. The gang has become affiliated with other narco-terrorist groups in Honduras and Mexico, and has even recently begun a battle for power among some of Mexico's largest drug trafficking and narco-terrorist families and gangs.

Nearly every other country in the Caribbean region as well as the northern half of South America has been affected by MS-13 activity. The tradition of the mara, or Central American street gang goes back hundreds of years, when people needed to band together to ensure protection and safety. Since this tradition is so deeply rooted in these cultures, it is very unlikely that gangs and organizations like MS-13 will go away anytime soon (Bruneau, 2005). There have been few efforts to combat the root causes of street gangs in Central American countries, since many of these country's governments lack the structure and resources to successfully fight back against them. The very structure of these terrorist organizations helps them to survive (Fishel and Grizzard, 2005). Peasants, workers, farmers all belong to MS-13, and since it is very hard to either identify or successfully neutralize an insurgent force within its own environment, law enforcement organizations have had an extremely hard time with them (Manwaring, 2008). Couple that with the fact that MS-13 instills an incredible sense of loyalty and courage in its members, and a recipe for international terrorism without a foreseeable antidote or end is created.

The lack of political and economic development in the countries where MS-13 operates has also helped to keep the mara entrenched in local culture (Bruneau, 2005). Without adequate jobs and economic activity, even the most talented of individuals is made vulnerable to outside gang and organization influences. In many towns and villages, MS-13 is the only form of economic and political stability, and therefore is very hard to root out and eliminate. Combined with the fact that many of the economies of Central American countries are built around outside competition and the fact that the political and military elite are often very corrupt, MS-13's continued presence is easily understood. No Central American country has yet developed a strategy for dealing with MS-13 (Bruneau, 2005). The Central American context in which the MS-13 organization thrives is quite easily identified, but very hard to change.

"In sum, the political institutions are new, democratic legitimacy is problematic, the countries are poor, social problems huge, the military are supposed to be out of domestic roles and missions, and the police are inadequate. And, the rule of law, with all of the bases in law, enforcement, and the judicial system, remains tentative. This is the context within which the maras, and their significance for national security, must be assessed." (Bruneau, 2005)