Gangs in El Salvador

Mara Salvatrucha (; ), commonly known as MS-13, is an international criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles, California, in the 1980s. Originally, the gang was set up to protect Salvadoran immigrants from other gangs in the Los Angeles area. Over time, the gang grew into a more traditional criminal organization. MS-13 has a longtime rivalry with the 18th Street gang.

multi-ethnic transnational criminal organization

transnational group of delinquents in the USA