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El Salvador gang MS-13 targeted by US Treasury | El Salvador gang MS-13 targeted by US Treasury |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The United States Treasury has designated a violent gang set up by El Salvador immigrants in the Los Angeles area as a "transnational criminal organisation". | The United States Treasury has designated a violent gang set up by El Salvador immigrants in the Los Angeles area as a "transnational criminal organisation". |
The move allows the authorities to seize assets from the MS-13 gang. | The move allows the authorities to seize assets from the MS-13 gang. |
The group makes millions of dollars in profits from drug-trafficking and other criminal activities. | The group makes millions of dollars in profits from drug-trafficking and other criminal activities. |
MS-13 has thousands of members across the US, Canada, Mexico and Central America. | MS-13 has thousands of members across the US, Canada, Mexico and Central America. |
The US authorities say the sanction makes it illegal for American citizens and banks to do any business with them. | The US authorities say the sanction makes it illegal for American citizens and banks to do any business with them. |
Much of the money generated by the gang is sent back to El Salvador, where its leadership is based. | Much of the money generated by the gang is sent back to El Salvador, where its leadership is based. |
"This designation allows us to strike at the heart of MS-13," Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton told the AP news agency. | "This designation allows us to strike at the heart of MS-13," Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton told the AP news agency. |
MS-13 is "one of the most dangerous and rapidly expanding criminal gangs in the world today," says a US treasury statement. | MS-13 is "one of the most dangerous and rapidly expanding criminal gangs in the world today," says a US treasury statement. |
It has 30,000 members, adds the statement, with members involved in murder, racketeering, drug- and sex -trafficking from Alaska and Canada in the north all the way down to Central America. | |
"MS-13's criminal nature can be seen in one of its mottos, 'Mata, roba, viola, controla', or 'kill, steal, rape, control'," says the statement. | "MS-13's criminal nature can be seen in one of its mottos, 'Mata, roba, viola, controla', or 'kill, steal, rape, control'," says the statement. |
In one of the most gruesome murders carried out by the gang on American soil, a pregnant Virginia teenager was stabbed to death in 2003 after she became a police informant. | In one of the most gruesome murders carried out by the gang on American soil, a pregnant Virginia teenager was stabbed to death in 2003 after she became a police informant. |
Thousands of MS-13 members have been arrested in the US this year. | Thousands of MS-13 members have been arrested in the US this year. |
Civil war | Civil war |
MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, was created in the 1980s in Los Angeles by poor mostly illegal immigrants who had escaped from the civil war in El Salvador. | MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, was created in the 1980s in Los Angeles by poor mostly illegal immigrants who had escaped from the civil war in El Salvador. |
When the conflict ended, with a peace treaty signed in 1992, many were expelled and deported to their country - or their parents' country in many cases. | When the conflict ended, with a peace treaty signed in 1992, many were expelled and deported to their country - or their parents' country in many cases. |
They took back to Central America LA's gang culture. | They took back to Central America LA's gang culture. |
MS-13's main rivals are the Barrio 18 gang, also founded by Salvadorean immigrants in Los Angeles. | MS-13's main rivals are the Barrio 18 gang, also founded by Salvadorean immigrants in Los Angeles. |
In March they agreed to a cease-fire, mediated by the Catholic Church, which has sharply reduced the number of murders in the country. | In March they agreed to a cease-fire, mediated by the Catholic Church, which has sharply reduced the number of murders in the country. |
Salvadorean gangs have also got involved in drug trafficking. | Salvadorean gangs have also got involved in drug trafficking. |
They became allies, or in some cases enemies, of Mexico's powerful drug cartels, such as the Zetas and the Sinaloa Cartel. | They became allies, or in some cases enemies, of Mexico's powerful drug cartels, such as the Zetas and the Sinaloa Cartel. |
MS-13 members, known as 'maras' or 'mareros', cover their bodies with tattoos and use hand signs to identify each other. | MS-13 members, known as 'maras' or 'mareros', cover their bodies with tattoos and use hand signs to identify each other. |
Gang members are also in control of most Salvadorean prisons. | Gang members are also in control of most Salvadorean prisons. |