California is home to some of the most interesting and crowded towns in the U.S. Some of the most dangerous and well-known gangs are based there. They do criminal things like selling drugs, extortion, robbery, murder, and more, and they work in different parts of the state. Right now, these five gangs are the most dangerous in California.
MS-13
MS-13, sometimes called Mara Salvatrucha, is a gang from all over the world. It began in Los Angeles in the 1980s with families from El Salvador who had to leave their country because of the civil war. Since then, people from other parts of the US, Central America, Europe, and even Australia have joined the gang.
MS-13 uses machetes and ancient methods to kill people. Lots of bad things are done by the gang, such as trafficking people and women, kidnapping people, and bringing drugs into the country. MS-13 is made up of about 10,000 people in the US. Southern California has a lot of them, mostly in the San Fernando Valley and the Pico-Union area.
Nuestra Familia
Nuestra Familia, also written as “Our Family,” was a jail gang. In the late 1960s, members of the group got together at this facility. It’s set up like an armed group, and the gang has strict rules.
Nuestra Familia is in charge of most of the illegal things that happen in Northern California. This is especially true in the country and the Central Valley. The Mexican Mafia and the gang have also had a bad relationship for a long time.
The Mexican Mafia is another strong Orange County jail gang. Our family includes about 2,000 people who are in or out of jail. The Norteños are their friends and allies.
Crips
The Crips was one of the first and largest street gangs in the US. It began in Los Angeles in the late 1960s with Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams. The gang is made up of different sets or subgroups, and each one has its attitude, spot, and leader.
People know Crips for the signs they use with the number 6, the word “C,” and the color blue. Thieves, killings, and drug deals are some of the crimes that Crips are involved in. About 35,000 people in the US are part of Crips. Los Angeles, Compton, Long Beach, and Inglewood are some of the cities where most of them live in Southern California.
When the Hells Angels
Formed in 1948 by a group of women who had served in World War II, Hells Angels is a motorcycle club. Because the club is involved in many crimes, such as murder, drug dealing, extortion, and racketeering, the police see it as an outlaw biker gang.
The Hells Angels are known for the red color, the word A, and the head of a dead body they wear. In the US, there are about 2,500 Hells Angels members. The Bay Area, San Bernardino, Ventura, and Sacramento are where most of them live in California.
Power of Armenia
A street gang called Armenian Power (AP) was formed in the 1980s by Armenians who moved to Los Angeles. Different groups, or cliques, make up the gang. Each one has its own area and boss. The Armenian flag, the color black, and the letter P are all used to show Armenian Power.
Fraud, identity theft, extortion, and murder are just a few of the sins that Armenian Power does. Armenian Power is made up of about 250 people in the US. They mostly live in Glendale, Burbank, and Hollywood in Southern California.
Conclusion
These are some of the most dangerous gangs in California right now. A lot more are also a threat to the safety and security of the state. It’s not just the police who have a problem with these gangs; people and groups who live in places where crime and corruption are popular also have a problem. Lots of people need to know about these crime groups so they don’t spread. It is also important to help and give chances to young people and people from disadvantaged groups, who are simple to get to work for them and change their minds.
