Modern Wisdom #316 - Steven Dudley - MS-13: America's Most Notorious Gang
May 3, 2021
Steven Dudley, Director of InSight Crime and expert on organized crime, discusses the notorious MS-13 gang. He explains how the gang operates without a centralized leadership and the dangers members face when trying to leave. Dudley reveals the gang's evolution from Salvadoran refugees to a violent organization, its dual role as both victimizer and victim, and the complexities of its ties to politics and religion. He also highlights the urgent need for community-focused solutions to combat gang influence.
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MS-13 Origins and Notoriety
- MS-13 formed from El Salvadoran refugees in Los Angeles, initially bonding over heavy metal music.
- The gang evolved due to their environment, becoming transnational and known for gruesome, public killings using machetes and knives.
Decentralized Leadership
- MS-13 has a decentralized leadership structure, with cliques, programs, and regional boards.
- No single leader controls the entire gang, unlike traditional cartel structures.
MS-13 and the Mexican Mafia
- The Mexican Mafia, a prison gang, controls Latino inmates in Southern California prisons, forming the Sureños umbrella group.
- MS-13 was forced into the Sureños, providing the Mexican Mafia with an extended criminal network and contract labor.
