THE MARAS

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THE MARAS
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• The Maras, a phenomenon specific to Guatemala,
  Honduras and El Salvador, take their name from
  the marabunta ants, Central American army ants
  that devour everything in their way.

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• Formed by young people between 11 to 40 years
  old
• Divided in two groups Mara 13 y Mara 18(666)
• It is estimated that the maras mobilize 25,000
  to 300,000 active members

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Identifiers

• Tattoos on their bodies that state the gang they
  belong to. This tattoos shows an important event
  in the persons life within the gang.

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• The hand signals they use to communicate with
  other members.
• Gang "signs" are also used by MS-13 including the
  infamous "devil horns".
• Members also use multiple hand signals to
  communicate

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Some signs

• Known as "stacking", these signs can be used to
  coordinate an attack. 
• Pulling up on the shoulders of the shirt
  indicates an imminent attack.
• Rubbing the belly indicates a shooting. 
• A brush on the left shoulder indicates a stabbing
  attack.

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• For children living under extreme social
  deprivation the Maras represents the only
  possibility of achieving recognition.
• Youngsters compete for the opportunity of
  undergoing the initiation ritual, which can vary
  from selling drugs, bearing a violent beating
  from other members, to even killing a police
  officer.

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• Once a member is brought in to the gang, they are
  in for life. 
• They cannot act without the boss's consent.
• They cannot kill without reason.
• They cannot talk to the police.
• MS-13 has no tolerance for gang members who drop
  out. 

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• Edgard and ex-member of this group said If I
  had stayed in Guatemala, members of the
  Salvatrucha gang would have killed me.  I know
  that if I go back to Guatemala they will torture
  me.  They will kill me because I left the gang.
• Edgar was released from jail and deported.  10
  days after Edgar was found dead from multiple
  gunshot wounds. 

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• They engage in robbery, abduction, torture - even
  decapitation of their victims to show their
  power.
• In Mexico the Maras use the frontier with
  Guatemala to rob migrants from South and Central
  America trying to reach the US.
• One of the defining factors of MS-13 is their
  absolute intolerance for anyone who informs the
  police of their activities. 

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• On July 13, 2003, Brenda Paz, a 17-year-old
  female, was killed for informing the police about
  Mara Salvatrucha activities. Four of her friends
  were later convicted of the murder.
• In El Salvador in early July, suspected gang
  members left the decapitated heads of two young
  women near a police station. That same week,
  several body parts were found in neighboring
  Guatemala

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• 30th of march Maras killed 9 members of one
  family.