MS-13 National MS-13 National Gang Task ForceGang Task Force

AK

OH

WA

CA

TX

AR

IL

PA

VA

MI

GAAL

ORMT

ID

NV UT

WY

KS

OK

MN

IA

LA

TN

KY

IN

NCSC

FL

AZ NM

CO

NE

SD

ND

WI

MO

NY

MS

WV

MENHVT MA

RICT

NJDE

DCMD

HI

MS-13 and 18MS-13 and 18thth Street were both founded in Street were both founded in Los Angeles. The greater Los Angeles area Los Angeles. The greater Los Angeles area continues to have one of the largest continues to have one of the largest concentrations for both gangs. concentrations for both gangs.

US OverviewUS Overview

MS-13 has MS-13 has been been identified identified as having as having cliques in cliques in 42 States.42 States.

1818thth Street Street has been has been identified identified in 37 in 37 states.states.

MS-13 NGTF OverviewMS-13 NGTF Overview

MS-13 National Gang Task Force established at FBIHQ December 2004.

Supports and coordinates local, state, and federal investigations of MS-13 and 18th Street gangs into national and international level investigations.

Coordinates intelligence and investigations between the United States, Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

US Overview of MS-13US Overview of MS-13 Identified MS-13 activity in 42 states Identified MS-13 activity in 42 states

and DC.and DC. Strong presence is in California, Strong presence is in California,

Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, and New York. and New York.

Presence in rural areas. Presence in rural areas. Network based on Central American Network based on Central American

communities and day-laborer communities and day-laborer industries such as construction, industries such as construction, meat packing, and landscaping.meat packing, and landscaping.

Varying MS-13 population estimates Varying MS-13 population estimates 6,000 – 8,0006,000 – 8,000

AK

OH

WA

CA

TX

AR

IL

PA

VA

MI

GAAL

ORMT

ID

NV UT

WY

KS

OK

MN

IA

LA

TN

KY

IN

NCSC

FL

AZ NM

CO

NE

SD

ND

WI

MO

NY

MS

WV

MENHVTMA

RICT

NJDE

DCMD

HI

MS-13 states with clique activity =

MS-13 states with no reported activity =

MS-13 transient activity no established cliques =

Based on FBI 2007 NTAI

Identified in 37 states and 11 countriesIdentified in 37 states and 11 countries One of the largest Hispanic gangs in the One of the largest Hispanic gangs in the

U.S.U.S. Estimated membership 13,000 – 20,000Estimated membership 13,000 – 20,000 The largest concentration of members is The largest concentration of members is

in Los Angeles, CAin Los Angeles, CA Maintain a strong network through Maintain a strong network through

family, friends and members over family, friends and members over internet, telephone and mailinternet, telephone and mail

US Overview of 18US Overview of 18thth Street Street

AK

OH

WA

CA

TX

AR

IL

PA

VA

MI

GAAL

ORMT

ID

NV UT

WY

KS

OK

MN

IA

LA

TN

KY

IN

NCSC

FL

AZ NM

CO

NE

SD

ND

WI

MO

NY

MS

WV

MENHVTMA

RICT

NJDE

DCMD

HI

No reported 18th Street presence =

18th Street reported presence =

Based on law enforcement reporting

EmploymentEmployment Relocation of FamiliesRelocation of Families New Lucrative Criminal MarketsNew Lucrative Criminal Markets Limited Law Enforcement PresenceLimited Law Enforcement Presence Avoid Retribution from Rival GangsAvoid Retribution from Rival Gangs Avoid Apprehension by Law Avoid Apprehension by Law

EnforcementEnforcement

EmploymentEmployment Relocation of FamiliesRelocation of Families New Lucrative Criminal MarketsNew Lucrative Criminal Markets Limited Law Enforcement PresenceLimited Law Enforcement Presence Avoid Retribution from Rival GangsAvoid Retribution from Rival Gangs Avoid Apprehension by Law Avoid Apprehension by Law

EnforcementEnforcement

Street Gang Street Gang MigrationMigration

Street Gang Street Gang MigrationMigration

Criminal Activity Criminal Activity HomicideHomicide ProstitutionProstitution Malicious wounding or felonious Malicious wounding or felonious

assaultsassaults Auto theft (chop shops, larceny from Auto theft (chop shops, larceny from

auto)auto) Intimidation and extortionIntimidation and extortion Drug distribution (limited to date)Drug distribution (limited to date) Burglaries (home invasion Burglaries (home invasion

and businesses)and businesses) Weapons trafficking (limited to date)Weapons trafficking (limited to date) Shoplifting (possibly as part of Shoplifting (possibly as part of

larger organized crime groups)larger organized crime groups)

CAFÉ CAFÉ The MS-13 NGTF has instituted a The MS-13 NGTF has instituted a

criminal file/fingerprint retrieval criminal file/fingerprint retrieval initiative know as the Central initiative know as the Central American Fingerprint American Fingerprint Exploitation (CAFÉ). Exploitation (CAFÉ).

The CAFÉ initiative has been The CAFÉ initiative has been developed to retrieve the criminal developed to retrieve the criminal fingerprints from the countries of fingerprints from the countries of El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. Belize and Honduras.

The purpose of this retrieval and The purpose of this retrieval and exploitation has been to assist in exploitation has been to assist in the identification of repeat the identification of repeat criminal offenders, including criminal offenders, including gang members, with criminal gang members, with criminal histories in more than one histories in more than one country. country.

Transnational Anti-Gang Transnational Anti-Gang

ProgramProgram TAG will augment current FBI TAG will augment current FBI Resolution-6 resources in Mexico to Resolution-6 resources in Mexico to investigate and counter trans-border investigate and counter trans-border criminal gang activity in El Salvador, criminal gang activity in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Chiapas, Honduras, Guatemala and Chiapas, Mexico.Mexico.

Placing 2 FBI Agents in El Salvador to Placing 2 FBI Agents in El Salvador to work in conjunction with “specific” El work in conjunction with “specific” El Salvador Police (PNC) Officers on the Salvador Police (PNC) Officers on the organized crime efforts of MS-13 and organized crime efforts of MS-13 and 18th Street. 18th Street.

Designed to enhance cooperation and Designed to enhance cooperation and coordination amongst law coordination amongst law enforcement agencies, to support and enforcement agencies, to support and facilitate domestic and international facilitate domestic and international operations which target significant operations which target significant transnational criminal gangs.transnational criminal gangs.

Other Foreign InitiativesOther Foreign Initiatives

Foreign Police Officer Exchange Foreign Police Officer Exchange Program.Program.

Foreign Analyst training conducted in Foreign Analyst training conducted in country by MS-13 NGTF and NGIC.country by MS-13 NGTF and NGIC.

Joint U.S. Joint U.S. proactiveproactive investigations with investigations with Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.Honduras.

MS-13 National MS-13 National Gang Task ForceGang Task Force