The 5 Most Violent Gangs in the United States

In some American cities, the streets are not a safe place to be, especially once the moon is up in the sky. Violent offenses take place every day, and street crimes are pretty common. Many times all of these are caused by various gangs that operate in various areas of this country, and being aware of their presence is a must if you want to stay safe.

At this point, gangs are different than they used to be, and most of them are more sophisticated than they used to be and do so much more than the classic drug trade and arms trafficking.

Here are some of the most dangerous US gangs, which terrify the streets of big cities. Read on to learn more about them and their illicit pursuits!

Sureños (Sur 13)

This is a powerful and widespread gang network that was born in Southern California but now is mainly operating on the East Coast. It was formed under the influence of the Mexican Mafia, and since the late 1990s, police have noticed that they have grown more and more powerful.

Sureños are mostly involved in drug trafficking, violent crimes, and extortion. Some of the most notorious gangs under the Sureño umbrella include Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang.

Initially, their goal was to restore order and collaboration among local gangs that had been fighting for centuries.

Wah Ching

Translating as “Chinese Youth,” this is a well-known Chinese-American criminal organization that was formed in San Francisco, California, in 1964.

Their initial purpose was to offer protection for those who needed it against other gangs, but Wah Ching evolved to be one of the powerful gangs involved in illegal activities such as extortion, drug trafficking, counterfeiting, and high-stakes gambling.

By the 1990s, Wah Ching extended greatly, especially in Southern California, where it still is one of the most feared Chinese criminal organizations. According to a 1995 investigation from the California Department of Justice, Wah Ching had over 1,800 members, reaffirming its position of power in the Los Angeles area.

Compared to other gangs, Wah Ching has a high level of discipline and secrecy, and this helps them escape law enforcement.

La Cosa Nostra

They are also known as the Sicilian Mafia and are one of the most notorious organized crime groups. They originated from Sicily when, in the 19th century, they expanded their activities in the US and quickly grew to finally establish dominance in New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

Their illicit activities include extortion, racketeering, drug trafficking, loan sharking, and contract killings. Their main tactics were bribery and intimidation, and they used them to maintain their power. Also, they had a big influence over industries such as construction, waste management, and labor unions.

The organization’s structure is very secretive, with an extremely strict code of silence called omertà that guarantees member loyalty. Right now it doesn’t have as much power as it used to have but still operates in some cities such as New York, New England, Chicago, and Detroit.

Crips

They are one of the most notorious and most feared gangs in the United States, and they originated in Los Angeles, where they formed during the late 1960s.

At first, they operated as a neighborhood protection group but quickly evolved and became a major criminal organization engaged in drug trafficking, extortion, robbery, and violent crimes, including homicide.

Right now the estimates say that Crips have tens of thousands of members with branches in cities across the U.S. and even internationally!

They are associated with the color blue, and the members operate in loose networks, each having its own leadership. Over the years, law enforcement actions have crippled multiple groups, but the Crips remain an enormous threat.

Bloods

Since we mentioned the Crips, it was impossible to not include the Bloods on our list. They also are from LA, and they became a powerful gang in the early 1970s. They are a direct response to the Crips and were formed from smaller groups that were looking for protection.

In the past, they used to be a powerful and violent organization engaged in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, and murder. Today, they still have thousands of active members who operate in urban and suburban settings.

Red is their color, and they have a reputation for using ruthless enforcement tactics and brutal street warfare, particularly against their rivals, the Crips.

In the same fashion as the Crips, the Bloods also operate in more different factions with their own rules and leaders, and this makes it almost impossible for authorities to dismantle them.

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