Gangs have been around for as long as anyone is able to determine. However, the violence that is associated with gangs has been on the rise in recent years. There are hundreds of different in the world, but there are some that are considered to be more dangerous than others. The top 10 most dangerous gangs in the world come from a number of different countries and have spread their violent influence around the world.
10. The Cosa Nostra
The Cosa Nostra is possibly one of the most famous of the Italian Mafia factions. This gang has its roots in New York and started with Italian immigration into the area. The Cosa Nostra has a large presence in the lower east side of New York and has over 200000 affiliates all over the world.
9. The Mungiki
The Mungiki is a dangerous gang that many people have not heard about. This gang from Kenya is made up of members from the largest ethnic group in the country and is considered among the most dangerous gangs due to the level of violence it uses. The gang does not have much influence in the countries surrounding Kenya.
The gang is known to behead those who stand in their way and mount the heads on poles to scare others. This was a tactic that was seen during the most recent Kenyan elections to intimidate voters.
8. United Bamboo
United Bamboo is a gang based in Taiwan with influence that is thought to spread across the Pacific Rim and into America. The gang started as an assassination machine that had the backing of Beijing during the communist takeover of China. However, since this time the violent tactics that rule the gang has moved from political activities to criminal ones with the gang putting their efforts into human trafficking and drug smuggling.
The gang has a place on the top 10 most dangerous gangs list due to the fact that they are willing and able to assassinate those that stand in their way. The most notorious of these assassinations is that of Henry Liu, a Chinese-America journalist who was murdered in California.
7. Primeiro Comando da Capital
The Primeiro Comando da capital or PPC is the most notorious gang in Sau Paulo, Brazil. This gang started out in the prison system of the city, but has since spread to the shanty towns that surround the city. The gang is known for their violence and lawlessness which has caused problems for the city of Sau Paulo in the past.
6. Mara Salvatrucha
Mara Salvatrucha is considered to potentially be the most dangerous gang in the United States of America. The gang also known as MS-13 started in El Salvador and moved to Southern California shortly after the civil war in the country. Since the move MS-13 has expanded and is now an international gang with members in the United States, Mexico and Central America.
In the Gang Assessment that was carried out by the FBI, MS-13 was given an entire section. There is also a special taskforce in the FBI that is dedicated to stopping MS-13. The dangerous nature of this gang can be seen in the fact that they are generally the hired muscle that the Mexican drug cartels use.
5. Yakuza
Yakuza are the famed Japanese mafia who actually use minimal amounts of violence in terms of civilian casualties. The gang looks to keep civilian casualties to a minimum and this allows the gang to operate relatively openly in Japan. The gang is in the top 10 most dangerous gangs list because of the way that they have integrated themselves into the everyday running of Japan.
4. The Camorra
The Camorra are considered to be the most powerful faction of the Italian Mafia based on power, economic standing and the violence they use. The Camorra is different to other Italian Mafia factions as there is no centralised leadership which makes them much harder to pinpoint and eliminate. The Camorra consists of 111 clans and they complete all types of illegal activities.
3. Solntsevskaya Bratva
The Russian Mafia is made up of a number of factions with the largest considered to be Solntsevskaya Bratva. Actual information about this gang is limited, but it is known that the gang has no problem with murdering those that stand in their way. The gang is part of all workings in the Russian underworld and has spread to various parts of the United States.
2. The Sinaloa Cartel
When thinking about Mexican drug cartels one of the names that come to mind is the Sinaloa Cartel. This gang was the most powerful of drug cartels in the country and was run by the infamous El Chapo. The gang was the largest player in the international drug trade and is currently waging a violent war in Mexico against another member of the top 10 most dangerous gangs.
1. Los Zetas
Los Zetas is another drug cartel from Mexico and has been waging a violent war against the Sinaloa Cartel for the last 10 years. Los Zetas is considered to now be the most powerful gang in Mexico as well as the most dangerous in the world due to the high levels of violence that they are willing to use. The influence that the gang has is so strong that they were able to steal the body of their killed leader from the custody of the Mexican authorities.
There are many gangs in the world and some are more dangerous than others. It is important that you know about the top 10 most dangerous gangs in the world.