18th Street gang

Transnational criminal gang

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Criminal organization

18th Street Gang

18th Street graffiti

Founded| 1960s[1]
Founding location| Los Angeles, California, United States[2]
Years active| 1960s–present
Territory| United States, Mexico, Central America, Canada[3]
Ethnicity| Mexicans, Salvadorans, Hondurans, Guatemalans, Nicaraguans, Native American, Costa Ricans
Membership (est.)| 30,000–50,000 members [2]
Activities| Drug trafficking, prostitution, extortion, kidnapping, robbery, assault, murder[2]
Allies|

* Mexican Mafia[4]
* Other Sureños gangs[5]

Rivals|

* Avenues[6]
* Mara Salvatrucha[7]
* Playboys[8]
* Santa Monica 13[9]
* Temple Street[10]
* Vineland Boys[11]
* Florencia 13[12]
* Bloods[13]
* Black P. Stones (Jungles)[14]

The 18th Street Gang, also known as Eighteen St, Barrio 18, Mara 18, or simply 18 in North America,[1][15][16][17] is a multi-ethnic (largely Central American and Mexican) street gang in Los Angeles.[18] It is one of the largest street gangs in Los Angeles, with around 30,000–50,000 members between the United States, Mexico, and Central America.[19] A United States Department of Justice report featured the following statement regarding 18th Street and rival gang MS-13: "These two gangs have turned the Central American northern triangle into the area with the highest homicide rate in the world".[20]

## History

[edit]

The 18th Street Gang was formed in the Rampart District of Los Angeles in the 1960s by Mexican-Americans and other immigrant youths who were not accepted into existing Hispanic gangs, specifically the Clanton 14 gang.[1][21] The Clanton 14 gang was composed of mostly second generation Hispanics, and only accepted members of Mexican descent.[21] Some members of Clanton 14 wanted to start a new clique called "Clanton 18th Street" and allow members of other ethnicities to join; however, this proposal was rejected by the Clanton 14, which led to the formation of the 18th Street Gang.[3][22][21] The two gangs have been bitter rivals ever since.[22]

18th Street grew by expanding its membership to other nationalities and races, and it was among the first multiracial, multi-ethnic gangs in Los Angeles.[1] In the beginning, they were made up largely of second-generation Hispanics.[1] As the 18th Street Gang began to battle with more established Hispanic gangs, they began to recruit outside the Hispanic community. There are approximately two hundred separate, autonomous gangs operating under the same name within separate barrios in the San Fernando Valley; specifically, in North Hollywood, the San Gabriel Valley, South Bay, Riverside, East Los Angeles, South Los Angeles, Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, Northeast Los Angeles, Pico Union, Westlake, Koreatown, Inglewood, South Gate, Huntington Park, Maywood, Bellflower, Long Beach, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Los Angeles' Westside or West LA, according to the latest figures from the NDIC.[citation needed] In the early 2000s, the Federal Bureau of Investigation initiated wide-scale raids against known and suspected gang members, netting hundreds of arrests across the country.

### Central America

[edit]

18th Street started as a Mexican American gang, but the gang also became Central American as it started to recruit more members of other ethnic groups.[23][24][25] When Central American gang members were arrested in the United States, they were then deported back to Central America, where the gang arose not just in El Salvador, but also in Honduras and Guatemala, becoming one of the most violent gangs in the region.[26][27][28][29] 18th Street later became a bitter rival of MS-13 as both gangs sought supremacy in Central America. Members of 18th Street are mainly Mexican, Salvadoran, Honduran, and Guatemalan, but the gang does have members from other parts of Central America. 18th Street influences have recently been spotted in Belize as well.[30][15][31][32]

In El Salvador, a faction called the "Revolucionarios ("Revolutionaries") split off 18th Street in 2005,[3][33] becoming rivals with the other members, who came to be known as the Sureños ("Southerners.")[34][35][36][37]

## Description

[edit]

### Location

[edit]

The majority of 18th Street cliques operate throughout Southern California, but are active in other states and internationally as well. Los Angeles members began migrating to other areas outside California and started to establish their own gangs. 18th Street gangs are active in 44 cities in 20 U.S. states,[2] as well internationally reported in Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Lebanon, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Venezuela and Philippines.[38]

### Organization

[edit]

The organization of the 18th Street Gang differs from location to location. With the gang being spread so vastly nationally and internationally, it is difficult to have a universal organizational structure. The gang is organized in such a way that allows for leadership at every level. One common organizational structure seen used by Barrio 18 is as follows. At the very top are “palabreros” or "leaders," a majority of these members are in prison, but still help run the gang by coordinating all criminal activities. "Palabreros" also exist outside of the prison and are known as "en la libre." Lastly, there are civilians who are known as collaborators. They are not officially gang members, but they are responsible for helping the gang with small jobs, like obtaining intelligence, and moving or holding illicit goods.

In Central America the 18th Street Gang designates positions in their organizational structure in another way; at the top are the leaders, known as the "toros," meaning bull. Underneath each “toro” is a clica, which is led by a "homie." Under each "homie" are the "soldados," meaning soldiers.[39] Outside of the prisons, Barrio 18 is organized into divisions based on territory called "canchas" (courts) at city/neighborhood level and "tribus" (tribes) at regional level. The gang is horizontal in structure, allowing for a more decentralized approach to things. Although, overall 18th Street Gang is not very organized compared to some other modern day gangs. Women were also able to join the gang, but were treated very poorly. The women that joined the gang had three ways to do so, first was an 18-second beating, second was sexual intercourse with multiple members, and the last option was being the girlfriend or wife of a member can potentially lead to membership over time. The women were expected to take on male-associated roles often involving violence, as well as playing more of a mother role by caring for children and taking care of the sick.[40][41]

### Culture

[edit]

18th Street Gang members are required to abide by a strict set of rules. Failure to obey the word of a gang leader, or to show proper respect to a fellow gang member, may result in an 18-second beating, or even execution for more serious offenses.[42] According to the FBI, some factions of the 18th Street Gang have developed a high level of sophistication and organization. 18th Street Gang members often identify themselves with the number 18 on their clothing and sporting clothing from sports teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, and Las Vegas Raiders. 18th Street will use the symbols XV3, XVIII, X8, 666, 99, and 3-dots (Mi Vida Loca [My Crazy Life]) in their graffiti and tattoos. 18th Street colors are blue and black; blue is to represent and to pay tribute to The Mexican Mafia, and black is to represent the original color for the gang. The 18th Street Gang is occasionally referred to as the "Children's Army" because of its recruitment of elementary and middle-school aged youth. They also allow other ethnicities to join their ranks making the gang multi-ethnic. In El Salvador it is common for members of the gang to be tattooed on the face with a large "18". In many cases the tattoo covers the entire face.[43]

Pete Wingfield's 1975 single "Eighteen With a Bullet" is the official theme song of 18th Street.[44]

## Criminal activity

[edit]

Alleged members of the 18th Street gang incarcerated at CECOT

The most lucrative activity of the 18th Street gang is street-level distribution of cocaine and marijuana, and to a lesser extent, heroin and methamphetamine.[45] The gang is also involved in auto theft, carjacking, drive-by shootings, extortion, identification fraud, robbery, assault and homicide.[2]

Special Agent George Rodriguez of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) described the 18th Street gang as "one of the most violent street gangs and one of the most prolific in the United States". 18th Street is a well established gang that is involved in all areas of street-crime. Several 18th Street Gang members have reached a higher level of sophistication and organization in their illicit activities than other gangs. While their main source of income is street-level distribution of drugs, they also have been linked to murders, assaults, arson, copyright infringement, extortion, human trafficking, illegal immigration, kidnapping, prostitution, robbery, and weapons trafficking, as well as other crimes.[46] 18th Street Gang has also been implicated in the high-profile kidnapping and murder of the 16-year-old brother of internationally renowned Honduran football player Wilson Palacios.[47]

In 1998, Catarino Gonzalez was sentenced to life in prison after a jury convicted Gonzalez of first-degree murder for fatally shooting Officer Filbert Cuesta in the back of the head, while the officer was sitting in a patrol car.[48][49]

Kingston, New York police arrested and jailed several young men on the charge that they abducted a victim, took him to nearby woods, and murdered him. They were held on federal murder and racketeering charges.[50]

In 2019, an 18th Street gangster was fatally shot by a member of rival gang MS-13 in a Queens subway station.[51]

In Guatemala City, many bus drivers have been killed by 18th Street Gang members that drove through the alleged territory of the gang. Bus drivers were often victims of robberies and extortion.[52][53]

## In film

[edit]

* La Vida Loca [fr], a 2008 documentary film by Christian Poveda.

## See also

[edit]

* Criminal tattoo
* Mejicanos massacre
* Transnational gangs

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e Ribando, C. (2005). "Gangs in Central America" (PDF). U.S. Department of States, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division. Archived March 1, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ a b c d e Criminal Street Gangs justice.gov (May 12, 2015) Archived June 10, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
3. ^ a b c "Barrio 18". www.insightcrime.org. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017. Archived November 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ An Inside Look at 18th St.'s Menace Rich Connell and Robert J. Lopez, Los Angeles Times (November 17, 1996)
5. ^ "Barrio 18". 13 February 2018.
6. ^ The Avenues: Highland Park Gang KCET (November 14, 2011)
7. ^ Rival deadly gangs share the same prison cell: A look at El Salvador's controversial move Roberto Valencia and Noticias Telemundo, NBC News (May 22, 2020)
8. ^ People v. Delgado casetext.com (August 31, 2016)
9. ^ People v. Vasquez Court Listener (April 17, 2014)
10. ^ People v. Gaytan casetext.com (October 14, 2011)
11. ^ The Vineland Boys Gang Richard Valdemar, policemag.com (August 21, 2007)
12. ^ Quinones, Sam (18 October 2007). "Gang rivalry grows into race war". Los Angeles Times.
13. ^ Derek J. Moore (March 15, 2008). "Ruthless Asian gangs blaze trail of violence Killing in Jenner casts spotlight on ultraviolent syndicates with roots in Long Beach". Press Democrat. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
14. ^ Actor, community activist OG T. Rodgers passes away at 65 Shah Be Allah, The Source (August 20, 2021) Archived August 20, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
15. ^ a b Lynch, Tristam W. (2008). The evolution of modern Central American street gangs and the political violence they present: Case studies of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras (MA thesis). University of South Florida. Archived from the original on 6 July 2015.
16. ^ "HSI dismantles '18th street' gang's fraudulent document ring". U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
17. ^ Berlin, D.; Brizius, E.; Bump, M.; Garshelis, D.; Khonsari, N.; Pinheiro, E.; Rhudy, K.; Smith, J. (2007). "Between the border and the street: A comparative look at gang reduction policies and migration in the United States and Guatemala. Informally published manuscript, Georgetown University Law Center, Human Rights Institute, Georgetown University, Washington D.C., USA".
18. ^ Rosen, Jonathan; Kassab, Hanna (8 August 2018). Drugs, Gangs, and Violence. Springer International Publishing. pp. 91–116.
19. ^ Franco, Celinda. "The MS 13 and 18th street gangs: Emerging transnational gang threats?." Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, 2007.
20. ^ O'Reilly, Andrew (4 August 2017). "MS-13 isn't the only homicidal street gang in town - meet Barrio 18". Fox News. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
21. ^ a b c Valdez, Al (September 1999). "Gang on the move: Be 18th street wise". Trade Journal. 23 (9): 48–51.
22. ^ a b Zilberg, E. (2011). Space of Detention: The Making of a Transnational Gang Crisis between Los Angeles and San Salvador. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
23. ^ Maras in Guatemala Increasing in Sophistication \- published by Jeremy McDermott on 3 January 2013
24. ^ Julie Suarez. "Gangs in Guatemala" (PDF). By ghrc-usa.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
25. ^ Lacey, Marc (9 April 2008). "Guatemalan gang culture conquers the abused with abuse". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
26. ^ "El Salvador organized crime". insightcrime.org. Archived from the original on 24 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
27. ^ "Honduran gangs Salvatrucha and 18 Street announce truce". BBC News. insightcrime.org. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
28. ^ "Honduran Street gangs". worldbulletin.net. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
29. ^ Honduras gangs "You can recognise the gangs from their murders" published By Rob Crilly on 14 November 2014
30. ^ Honduran 18 Street gang member arrested in Belize publish by edition.channel5belize.com
31. ^ "Central American Gangs, Made in L.A." Marlon Bishop. 12 September 2014. Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
32. ^ "Gangs in Central America" (PDF). Clare Ribando. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
33. ^ Markham, Lauren (5 August 2015). "The 18th Street Gang Just Set Out to Prove It Runs El Salvador's Transport System". VICE News.
34. ^ José Luis Sanz y Carlos Martínez (25 October 2011). "La Revolución en Mariona" [The Revolution in Mariona] (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 11 August 2017.
35. ^ Partlow, Joshua (3 April 2016). "Two Salvadoran gangsters walk into a church" – via www.washingtonpost.com.
36. ^ "Rivers of blood". The Economist.
37. ^ "MS-13 y mara 18 planean unirse para enfrentar al Estado". elsalvador.com (in Spanish). 20 April 2015.
38. ^ Bruneau, Thomas (1 December 2011). Maras: Gang Violence and Security in Central America (Google eBook). University of Texas Press. p. 37\. ISBN 978-0-292-72928-5. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
39. ^ "Eighteenth Street: The Origins of 'Barrio 18' | Small Wars Journal". smallwarsjournal.com. 31 August 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
40. ^ "Barrio 18". InSight Crime. 27 March 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
41. ^ Cawley, Marguerite (6 September 2013). "The Mara Women: Gender Roles in CentAm Street Gangs". InSight Crime. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
42. ^ Pollack, Ricardo (24 January 2005). "Americas | Gang life tempts Salvador teens". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
43. ^ Ruck, Joanna. "El Salvador gangs celebrate a day without murders - in pictures". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
44. ^ admin (5 August 2008). "18 with a Bullet ~ Video Update | Wide Angle". Wide Angle. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
45. ^ "Appendix B. National-Level Street, Prison, and Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Profiles - Attorney General's Report to Congress on the Growth of Violent Street Gangs in Suburban Areas (UNCLASSIFIED)". www.justice.gov. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
46. ^ National Gang Intelligence Center – National Gang threat assessment 2009 Archived 14 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine
47. ^ Willie Gannon (10 May 2009). "Tottenham's Wilson Palacios' Brother Murdered By Kidnappers in Honduras". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 21 December 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
48. ^ Life Term Given in Slaying of Officer published by TIMES STAFF WRITER
49. ^ People v. Gonzalez published by scocal.stanford.edu
50. ^ Jesse J. Smith, "DA: Gang behind brutal slaying is still in Kingston," Hudson Valley 1, 6 April 2018 https://hudsonvalleyone.com/2018/04/06/da-gang-behind-brutal-slaying-is-still-in-kingston/
51. ^ Norman, Greg (6 March 2019). "Murders, metal pipes and baseball bats: How MS-13 is infiltrating one of NYC's most populous boroughs". Fox News. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
52. ^ Wells, Miriam (27 March 2017). "Murders of Guatemala Bus Drivers Double in 2013". InSight Crime. Retrieved 31 May 2025.
53. ^ "Guatemalan security forces capture gang members carrying improvised bombs". Diálogo Américas. 6 November 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2025.

## Further reading

[edit]

* "El Salvador swoops on street gang". BBC News. 13 July 2006.
* Arana, Ana (2005). "How the Street Gangs Took Central America". Foreign Affairs. 84 (3): 98–110\. doi:10.2307/20034353. JSTOR 20034353. S2CID 157770788.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 18th Street Gang.

* MS-13 Member's Trail Shows Gang's Movement 18th Street Gang/MS-13 Rivalry
* Strohm, Chris (1 August 2005). "DHS touts success of anti-gang operation". GovExec.com. Archived from the original on 3 March 2006. Retrieved 14 March 2006.
* La Cloaca Internacional: Entrevista de dos horas a integrantes del Barrio 18 (in Spanish)
* FBI.gov
* ICE.gov

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See also
Gangs in the United States
List of gangs
Organized crime groups in the Americas

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Organized crime groups in Los Angeles

African-American|

| Active|

* Bloods
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* Cedar Block Piru
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* Venice Shoreline Crips

|

Deputy gangs|

| Active|

* Compton Executioners
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|

East and Southeast Asian|

| Active|

* 14K
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* Bahala Na Gang‎
* Satanas
* Tiny Rascal Gang
* Wah Ching

|

Inactive|

* Black Dragons

Hispanic and Latin American|

| Active|

* Mexican Mafia
* Sureños
* 18th Street gang
* 38th Street gang
* Avenues
* Azusa 13
* Culver City Boys
* El Monte Flores
* Florencia 13
* MS-13
* Ontario Varrio Sur
* Playboys
* Puente 13
* Santa Monica 13
* Temple Street
* Toonerville Rifa 13
* Varrio Nuevo Estrada
* Venice 13
* Vineland Boys
* Westside Locos
* White Fence

|

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| Active|

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|

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| Inactive|

* Mickey Cohen
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|

Outlaw motorcycle gangs|

| Active|

* Chosen Few
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* Hessians
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* Vagos

|

Inactive|

* Straight Satans

Polynesian|

| Active|

* Sons of Samoa
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|

West Asian|

| Active|

* Armenian mafia
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|

White American|

| Inactive|

* FFF
* Wonderland Gang

|

White Supremacist|

| Active|

* Aryan Brotherhood
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* Public Enemy No. 1

|

Events|

* Crips–Bloods gang war
* Operation Hammer
* Operation Power Outage
* Watts truce
* Wonderland murders

See also
List of criminal gangs in Los Angeles
Organized crime groups in the United States

* v
* t
* e

Organized crime groups in New York City

African-American|

| Active|

* Crips
* Rollin' 30s Harlem Crips
* United Blood Nation
* Nine Trey Gangsters
* Sex Money Murder

|

Inactive|

* Black Spades
* The Council
* Nicky Barnes
* Casper Holstein
* Bumpy Johnson
* Frank Lucas
* Frank Matthews
* Stephanie St. Clair
* Supreme Team

Albanian-American|

| Active|

* Albanian Boys

|

Inactive|

* Rudaj Organization

Chinese and Chinese-American|

| Gangs|

* Continentals
* Flying Dragons
* Ghost Shadows
* White Tigers

|

Tongs|

* Four Brothers
* Hip Sing Tong
* On Leong Tong

Triads|

* 14K
* Big Circle Gang
* Sister Ping's Snakehead

Greek-American|

| Active|

* Velentzas Organization

|

Hispanic and Latin American|

| Colombian|

* Cali Cartel (inactive)
* Medellín Cartel (inactive)
* Norte del Valle Cartel (inactive)

|

Dominican|

* Dominicans Don't Play
* Jheri Curls (inactive)
* Trinitarios

Puerto Rican|

* Ghetto Brothers (inactive)
* Latin Kings
* Mau Maus (inactive)
* Ñetas

Central American|

* 18th Street
* MS-13
* Sur 13

South American|

* Tren de Aragua

Irish-American|

| Inactive|

* 19th Street Gang
* Bowe Brothers
* Dead Rabbits
* Ducky Boys
* Forty Thieves
* Gopher Gang
* Grady Gang
* Hudson Dusters
* Kerryonians
* Marginals
* Patsy Conroy Gang
* Potashes
* Rhodes Gang
* Roach Guards
* Short Tails
* Swamp Angels
* Westies
* White Hand Gang
* Whyos
* Yakey Yakes

|

Italian-American|

| Active|

* The "Five Families": Bonanno
* Colombo
* Gambino
* Genovese
* Lucchese

|

Inactive|

* Camorra in New York City
* D'Aquila crime family
* Five Points Gang
* Morello crime family
* Murder, Inc.
* New Springville Boys
* Purple Gang
* South Brooklyn Boys
* Tanglewood Boys

Jamaican|

| Active|

* Shower Posse

|

Jewish-American|

| Inactive|

* Brooklyn Thrill Killers
* Bugs and Meyer Mob
* Meyer Lansky
* Bugsy Siegel
* Eastman Gang
* Lenox Avenue Gang
* Murder, Inc.
* New York divorce coercion gang
* Arnold Rothstein
* Dutch Schultz
* Bugsy Siegel
* Howard Spira
* Yiddish Black Hand
* Zwi Migdal

|

Outlaw motorcycle gangs|

| Active|

* Hells Angels
* Pagan's

|

Inactive|

* Breed

Polish-American|

| Inactive|

* Greenpoint Crew

|

Russian|

| Inactive|

* Evsei Agron
* Marat Balagula
* Potato Bag Gang

|

Southeast Asian|

| Inactive|

* Born to Kill (Vietnamese)

|

Other historical groups|

* Atlantic Guards
* Batavia Street Gang
* Baxter Street Dudes
* Boodle Gang
* Broadway Mob
* Charlton Street Gang
* Cherry Hill Gang
* Chichesters
* Crazy Butch Gang
* Daybreak Boys
* Decepticons
* Dutch Mob
* Gas House Gang
* Honeymoon Gang
* Hook Gang
* Lenox Avenue Gang
* Molasses Gang
* Neighbors' Sons
* Savage Nomads
* Savage Skulls
* Shirt Tails
* Slaughter House Gang
* Tenth Avenue Gang
* Tub of Blood Bunch
* Bowery Boys

See also
Organized crime groups in the United States

* v
* t
* e

Rampart scandal

Notable accused officers|

* Nino Durden
* Kevin Gaines
* Brian Liddy
* David Mack
* Rafael Pérez

Victims|

* Frank Lyga
* Javier Ovando
* The Notorious B.I.G.

Coverup and investigation|

* Brian S. Bentley
* Bernard Parks
* Russell Poole

Gang involvement|

* 18th Street gang
* Bloods
* Death Row Records
* Suge Knight

Other|

* Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums
* Los Angeles Police Department
* LAPD Rampart Division

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