Maras (gangs)

Maras (or marabuntas) are gangs originating from Central American countries such as El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

Activities

Maras activities range from Arms trafficking, assault, auto theft, burglaries, drug trafficking, extortion, human trafficking, identity fraud, identity theft, illegal gambling, illegal immigration, kidnapping, money laundering, people smuggling, prostitution, racketeering, robbery and vandalism. Almost all maras display tattoos on their bodies as a sign of their affiliation to their gang.^[1] "La vida por las maras" or "the life for the gang" is a very commonly used phrase by these gangs. Although contrary to common belief, there is no evidence that the gang has ever had the killing of an innocent person as an element or form of initiation.^{[citation needed]}

Rivalries

The well most known maras are Mara Salvatrucha and their rivals Calle 18 and ECES 13 and VATOS LOCOS 13; maras are, or at least were, hunted by death squads including Sombra Negra.^[2] New rivals also include the former rising mara, The Rebels 13.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Mara Salvatrucha
• Mara 18

References

1. ^ City Mayors: Maras criminal gangs
2. ^ Mar 1999 USCIS publication QA/SLV/99.001, esp pg. 6 citation #14.

External links

• Foreignaffairs.org - How street gangs took Central America
• BBC news - Combating El Salvador's gangs
• Peetz, Peter (2008): Youth, Crime, and the Responses of the State: Discourses on Violence in Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, GIGA Working Papers, No. 80