List of gangs in Grand Theft Auto series

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The Grand Theft Auto series of video games features a myriad of fictional gangs and criminal organizations of various ethicities, histories and activities, which have served as both primary and secondly vehicles in the games' plot points, as well as allies or foes of the game's characters.

The following is a list of prominent criminal gangs in the series. This article primarily deals with gangs appearing within Grand Theft Auto titles set in Grand Theft Auto III canon, including:

• Grand Theft Auto III (GTA III), set in 2001.
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (GTA:VC), set in 1986.
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA:SA), set in 1992.
• Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (GTA:LCS), set in 1998.
• Grand Theft Auto Advance (GTAA), set roughly one year before GTA III.
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (GTA:VCS), set in 1984.

For gangs in Grand Theft Auto 2, see list of gangs in the Grand Theft Auto 2 article.

Note that a gang's criterion for inclusion is determined by their amount of involvement in the storyline of any Grand Theft Auto game, including the advancement of the plot or prominenet characters featured.

Contents 1 Italian-American/Sicilian Gangs 1.1 Leone family 1.2 Forelli family 1.3 Sindacco family 1.4 Vercetti Gang 1.5 Sicilian Mafia 2 African-American Gangs 2.1 Southside Hoods 2.2 Grove Street Families 2.3 Ballas 3 East Asian Gangs 3.1 Liberty City Triads 3.2 San Fierro Triads 3.3 Vice City Triads 3.4 Liberty City Yakuza 3.5 Da Nang Boys 4 Hispanic Gangs 4.1 Colombian Cartel 4.2 Diablos 4.3 Cholos 4.4 Diaz's gang 4.5 Cuban Gang/Los Cabrones 4.6 Los Santos Vagos 4.7 Varrios Los Aztecas 4.8 San Fierro Rifa 4.9 Mendez Cartel 5 Afro-Caribbean Gangs 5.1 Yardies 5.2 Haitian Gang 6 Caucasian American Gangs 6.1 Biker Gang 6.2 Trailer Park Mafia 7 Other Gangs 7.1 Vance Crime Family 7.2 Russian Mafia 7.3 Loco Syndicate 7.4 Streetwannabes/Sharks 7.5 Patrol Invest Group (P.I.G.s) 8 Notes and References

[edit] Italian-American/Sicilian Gangs

[edit] Leone family

First appearance: GTA III

The Leone family is an Italian-American Mafia criminal organization, originating from Sicily - referred to by Salvatore Leone as "the old country"- whose main base of operations is in Liberty City. They hold various assets in Portland including Cipriani's Restaurante, Sex Club 7, and Joey's Auto Painting Shop. Their main base of operations, however, is Salvatore's mansion, which is in the northeast end of the Saint Mark's district.

Salvatore Leone became the Don of the Leone family after a bloody power struggle during the mid-1980s. He has a son, Joey Leone, who much to Salvatore's dismay is not wed yet. It is assumed that Salvatore became Don after his unnamed brother was killed.

The Leone family was also active in Las Venturas, where they held a stake in Caligula's Casino with the Sindacco and Forelli families, as agreed upon in 1992 (San Andreas), possibly in an attempt to unite the organizations. Salvatore Leone would eventually seize total control of the casino in 1992 after the death of Johnny Sindacco and the murder of Giorgio Forelli, only to have his casino robbed later in a heist organized by former ally Carl "CJ" Johnson. It is assumed that because of the great loss of money from the heist, Salvatore abandons his investments in Las Venturas and returns to Liberty City, allowing the Sindacco family to retake their position within the city, however this is merely speculation. Not only that, but the shock of Carl (previously a loyal associate) betraying him and stealing so much of his money right from under his nose drove the Don to paranoia.

The Leone family are engaged in a war with the Sindaccos in Liberty City Stories, which they win, with Toni Cipriani, the Leone family's Caporegime, eventually killing Don Paulie Sindacco. In the process, they take over Paulie's Revue Bar (later renamed as "Sex Club 7") as well as the Red Light District and Hepburn Heights, destroying all the influence the Sindacco family once had on the island. They also engage in some open warfare against the Forelli family, but are mostly content to prolong the hostilities between the Sindacco and Forelli families, allowing them to wipe each other out. The Forelli family's power is seemingly broken when Toni unknowingly obliterated their main base of operations on Staunton Island while working for Donald Love (which inadvertently kills Don Franco Forelli), and later, Toni takes out the Sindacco Don, Paulie Sindacco. With Toni and Salvatore taking out the Sicilians responsible for starting the gang wars, the Leones becomes the pre-eminent family in Liberty City, taking Hepburn Heights and the Red Light District in Portland.

Three years later in GTA III, the Leone family have declined in power, although they are still one of the strongest crime syndicates in town. Their territory in Chinatown has been openly taken by the Triads (although they still have businesses there), Hepburn Heights now belongs to the Diablos (as Toni Cipriani predicted it would in Liberty City Stories) and the Colombian Cartel is undermining them by selling cheap SPANK from their freighter in the harbor. Joey Leone engages in a small, subtle war with the now-weakened Forelli family, ordering the killing of Mike "Lips" Forelli, the speculated Don of the Forelli family. In the same year, the Leones engage in a full-scale war with the Liberty City Triads after certain businesses in Chinatown stop paying their protection money to the Leone family. The war is long and concludes in three of the Triad warlords being killed, as well as the Triad Fish Factory being destroyed by a bomb set off from a garbage truck.

Claude was seen working for the Leone family in GTA III, killing "Lips" Forelli, acting as their main agent against the Triads and destroying the Colombian freighter; however, Don Salvatore Leone eventually betrays Claude, ordering him to retrieve a car secretly rigged with explosives. It was later revealed that Salvatore had grown paranoid of Claude. Salvatore had offered Claude's death as a deal to the Colombian Cartel. As a result, Claude assassinates Salvatore as a final gesture to the Leone family, which strengthens his own ties with the Liberty City Yakuza. Following the death of Salvatore, it is assumed that Joey Leone will become the new Don of the Leone family. (Joey hasn't done very much for his family, just fixing cars in his garage.)

In GTA III and GTA:LCS Leone henchmen don black suits; some with sunglasses. The Leone family is widely speculated to be based on the Corleone family from The Godfather novel and film.

[edit] Forelli family

First appearance: GTA III

The Forelli family is an Italian-American Mafia family based in Liberty City. The Don of the Forelli family in 1986 is Sonny Forelli, who would be killed by Tommy Vercetti, a renegade Forelli member in Vice City. They had planned to expand their empire "down south", by opening relations with local drug cartels through Tommy Vercetti, but that never happened due to Sonny's death and Tommy's defection. The main base of operations for this once powerful organization was Marco's Bistro before Sonny's death. The Forelli family used to be the most powerful family in Liberty City, but the deaths of many high-ranking members (such as Sonny, Giorgio and Franco) have led to their subsequent downfall over time.

In San Andreas, it was agreed that the Forelli family would own an equal share of Caligula's Casino, along with the Sindacco and Leone families in 1992. However, their part in the deal would quickly end as Salvatore Leone (the Don of the Leone family) ordered Carl Johnson to gun down the Underboss of the Forelli family (Giorgio Forelli) at Marco's Bistro (having already destroyed the Sindacco family's influence in Las Venturas) so the Leone family could fully control the Casino.

In Liberty City Stories, Salvatore Leone mentions Franco Forelli as the Don of the Forelli family at the time, likely taking control of the reigns after Sonny Forelli's death in 1986. Liberty City Stories also reveals a Little Italy district in Fort Staunton that served as the main base of the Forellis' operations after Sonny's death. They got into a gang war with the Sindacco family after the latter fled Portland - a gang war that the Leones were only too happy to prolong, weakening both sides. The entire district was destroyed by Toni Cipriani on orders from Donald Love, using plans stolen from Avery Carrington, effectively taking all their assets and power with it. What was once Little Italy would become the construction site disputed by the Colombian Cartel and Liberty City Yakuza by GTAIII.' It is highly likely that Franco Forelli was killed in the explosion, as he is neither seen nor mentioned thereafter in GTA:LCS and GTA III.

By GTA III, the Forelli family seems to have been weakened considerably, with the killing of several more Forelli members (including Mike "Lips" Forelli, the speculated Don after Franco's death) by Claude on Joey Leone's orders. It is assumed that the Forellis have been reduced to servitude under the Leone family and their organization on the whole is now considered a brotherhood. At this point in time, the Forelli family's territory is assumed to consist solely of the St. Mark's Bistro, but that might also be under majority control of the Leone family as a Leone Sentinel was seen parked there in Liberty City Stories.

In GTA:LCS, Forelli henchmen don blue/dark red shirts with light blue/white jackets over and carry pistols. In GTA III, they dressed like the Leones as seen in one of Joey Leone's missions as they were in disguise.

[edit] Sindacco family

First appearance: GTA:SA

The Sindacco family is another Italian-American Mafia family which is based in Las Venturas, and, formerly, Liberty City, where they originated from. In 1992, they had territory in Liberty City after Sonny Forelli's death. The Sindaccos also had a stake in Caligula's Casino, alongside the Forelli and Leone families. The Sindacco family wanted to do business with the Leone family and unite the two organizations and this involved Don Salvatore Leone pledging 5 million dollars to the Sindacco family, which Salvatore reluctantly agreed to. Both outfits argued over who should run the casino, and so Ken Rosenberg (once working with the Forelli family, but then abandoned by the very powerful Vercetti Gang) was put forward as a neutral party. Ken was in the middle of the Three Families, so if one attacked the other, Ken would most likely be the target of revenge.

The Sindacco family was formerly represented by Johnny Sindacco, the Underboss of the Sindacco family, who would die from shock-induced heart failure in GTA:SA after meeting Carl Johnson for a second time. It was revealed that Johnny had previously been captured by the San Fierro Triads, tied onto a car driven by Carl and scared into revealing information. He then went into a coma, suffering a period of psychological and physical trauma. The Introduction prequel also indicates Johnny is in fact the son of the Sindacco's Don, most likely Paulie Sindacco, as he mentioned that his father wanted to unite their organization with the Leone family. It is suspected that after the Leones abandon Caligula's Casino and return to Liberty City that the Sindaccos move in and re-take the casino, however there is no proof of this.

By the end of 1998, Paulie Sindacco decided to expand further throughout Liberty City, moving into Leone family territory in Chinatown, dealing drugs. In Liberty City Stories, on orders from Salvatore Leone, Toni Cipriani used J.D. O'Toole, who was running Paulie's Revue Bar in Liberty City's Red Light District for the Sindacco family, as an inside-man to help weaken the Sindaccos and claim the Red Light District and Paulie's Revue Bar (renamed Sex Club 7 by the Leones) as Leone territory. Later on, Toni Cipriani would kill Paulie Sindacco, the Don of the Sindacco family, in 1998.

After their defeat by the Leone family in the First Gang War of 1998, the Sindacco family left Portland for Staunton Island, moving into Forelli family territory. This resulted in the Second Gang War of 1998, this time between the Sindaccos and the Forellis. Don Franco Forelli and Don Paulie Sindacco attempted to establish a truce between the Forelli and Sindacco families, possibly to defeat the Leones together. Before a truce could be created, however, Toni Cipriani uses a remote control device to assume control of Paulie Sindacco's car and run over dozens of Forelli family members with it. This fueled the Sindacco family war with the Forelli family, which doesn't end until the assassination of Paulie Sindacco in Shoreside Vale later that same year and the death of Franco Forelli in the Little Italy explosion, all caused by Leone capo Tony Cipriani. The Sindaccos also owned territory in Torrington, including The Big Shot Casino, until the Yakuza decided to expand their influence in Liberty City by taking over Torrington, and in the process The Big Shot Casino as well, and subsequently they changed its name to Kenji's Casino.

With no turf or front companies remaining in Liberty City, the Sindacco family have very little influence (if any at all) remaining in Liberty City by GTA III. The family's fate remains unknown, as their activity outside Liberty City after Paulie's death is never disclosed. It is speculated they settled permanently in Las Venturas, it being their only other known outpost.

In GTA:LCS, Sindacco members wear black shirts, black pants and brown jackets (leather or not) with/without sunglasses and carry pistols. In GTA:SA the mobsters (presumed to be the Sindacco Family) dress in either brown leather jackets with gray pants and light blue shirts with chains, or in black jogging suits.

[edit] Vercetti Gang

First appearance: GTA:VC

The Vercetti Gang^[1] is a very powerful underworld outfit that is based in and around Vice City. The Vercetti Gang is headed by Tommy Vercetti, a renegade Forelli family member who has assumed control of many businesses and property ventures in Vice City, circa 1986. The organization is known to be involved in various illegal enterprises, including extortion, drug dealing and organized crime.

Tommy Vercetti was originally dispatched by the Forelli family to Vice City to oversee a drug deal funded by Forelli family money; the drug deal was supposed to be the beginning of the Forelli expansion down south towards Vice City. After the deal was ambushed by Diaz's gang members, Vercetti was forced to start over with no money or property and aided only by Ken Rosenberg, a bent lawyer with Forelli connections. He eventually killed the perpetrator of the drug deal attack, Ricardo Diaz, aided by his new friend Lance Vance. Following the killing, he seized many properties and businesses assets in the city, with no assistance from the Forelli family; he later formed the powerful "Vercetti Gang", in the process. The expansion of the Vercetti Gang throughout Vice City made Tommy a very rich, powerful, and influential man, infuriating Sonny Forelli, the Don of the Forelli family circa 1986, who was demanding his cut of the profit. Tommy's refusual to give in led the Forelli family to send collectors to Vice City to attempt to cut into the profits of Tommy's businesses. The Forellis' efforts were thwarted, and Sonny Forelli eventually confronts Tommy in person, which leads to a massacre, resulting in the death of many Forelli members, including a recently defected Lance Vance, and Sonny himself in the Vercetti Estate. Following Sonny's death, the Vercetti Gang is assumed to have total domination of Vice City.

The Vercetti Gang, or at least Tommy Vercetti himself, is presumed to remain in power for an undisclosed time. In the prequel film to San Andreas, The Introduction, Ken Rosenberg, who was also initiated into the Vercetti Gang in 1986, is assumed to have been abandoned by Tommy after Ken is forced into rehabilitation for prolonged cocaine abuse. Following his release, Vercetti no longer takes his calls and their relationship is dissolved. This led to Ken's subsequent assignment as a middleman for the Leones, Forellis and Sindaccos over Caligula's Casino in Las Venturas and then employment as an accountant to rapper Madd Dogg (following this, it is unknown whether he later formulated a new relationship with Vercetti).

Members of the Vercetti Gang wear blue shirts or yellow Hawaiian shirts, long pants and sunglasses.

[edit] Sicilian Mafia

First appearance:GTA:LCS

In 1998, under the leadership of Salvatore Leone's elderly uncle, the Sicilian Mafia sparked several wars between rival families in Liberty City in the hope of controlling the city once the previous families had destroyed each other.

Their plan was foiled, however, when Salvatore Leone and his Caporegime, Toni Cipriani, were able to hold their own against all of the other criminal organizations in the city. To retaliate, the Sicilians attempted to intimidate the mayor into convicting Leone on racketeering charges. This strategy was never fully executed due to the fact that Cipriani, under orders from Salvatore, killed Massimo Torini. After this, Salvatore's uncle acknowledged defeat and the Sicilian Mafia left Liberty City. When his nephew began to insult him after their final confrontation, he simply replied, "Every dog has his day". Three years later Salvatore Leone is, in fact, killed by Claude.

[edit] African-American Gangs

[edit] Southside Hoods

First appearance: GTA III

The Southside Hoods are a prominent African-American gang in Shoreside Vale, Liberty City who came to acquire their turf in Wichita Gardens while helping Toni Cipriani clear the Forelli family out of Wichita Gardens as payback for their part in having Salvatore Leone arrested.^[2] They are comprised of the Red Jacks and Purple Nines, both rival gangs. In GTA III, the latter is known to have supplied the SPANK drug on local streets.^[3]

The Red Jacks are a small scale street gang headed by D-Ice. Most of their missions provided in GTA III involve crippling Purple Nines activities.^[4] Eventually, the Purple Nines would be extinct, with their remaining members defeated in a mêlée battle.^[5]

The GTA III rendition of Southside Hoods members wear jackets of either red or purple, depending on which side they belong to, but are not seen attacking each other on the streets. Stranger yet, when a Red Jack is attacked, any nearby Purple Nines will rush to assist the gang member who is being assaulted; the same holds true in reverse. This is also suggested when D-Ice warned that Red Jacks would believe that they will also be shot at when they witness Purple Nines being killed by the player.^[6] In GTA:LCS, the Red Jacks and Purple Nines are apparently united, portrayed wearing brown jackets, over red hoodies with their hoods up (depicting a Red Jack) or purple shirts (depicting a Purple Nine), pants and boots.

[edit] Grove Street Families

First appearance: GTA:SA

The Grove Street Families ("the Families" or "GSF" for short) are a street gang in Los Santos, San Andreas, the native gang of Carl "CJ" Johnson. As far as street gangs in San Andreas go, the GSF are depicted as more honorable than their rival gangs, as they are against hard drugs being sold on their turf,^[7][8] despite the numerous other crimes and violent acts they take part in. The Grove Street Families were headed by Sean "Sweet" Johnson and his lieutenants Lance "Ryder" Wilson, Melvin "Big Smoke" Harris. Sweet is adamantly anti-narcotic, but Smoke believes the GSF have fallen from power because of Sweet's refusal to have the gang sell drugs.^[9] Their unwillingness to enter the drugs trade has dragged the Grove Street Families out of prominence in the years leading up to the game's storyline. This coupled with the deaths of OGs such as Tony, Big Devil, and Little Devil, has led to the sorry state of the GSF upon CJ's return from Liberty City.

There are at least two other distinct sets of the Families: the Temple Drive Families and the Seville Boulevard Families, both of which were originally one with the Grove Street Families, but split up from the GSF during the five years of Carl's absence. The sets are not on good terms with each other,^[10] which is why the gang has weakened. Carl will occasionally make reference to Orange Grove Families; gang graffiti tags with the initials "OGF" also exist in game. This was the gang's original name, though Rockstar changed the name before the release of San Andreas.^[11] Some references to this remain in the game, incluing grafiti that can be seen around Los Santos, tatoos that CJ can get with the name Orange Grove Families, and phrases that CJ will shout out while fighting other people.

The rivalry between the sets mainly had to do with Grove Street's opposition to drug dealing, but later in the game, the Families were united into one gang. Grove Street member Carl Johnson was involved in a brief conflict with the Seville Boulevard Families, who were trying to pin Sweet while he was visiting his girlfriend in Seville. Following this incident, Carl and Sweet Johnson called for an end to "green on green" conflicts.

While Carl's return helped revive the GSF to an extent, Ryder and Smoke's betrayal of the gang, coupled with an ambush on Sweet and other high-ranking members by the rival Ballas gang and the police, destroyed much of the gang's influence in the city. Consequently, the Ballas and Los Santos Vagos seize all of GSF's turf in Los Santos. Sweet was imprisoned, and Carl was forced to continue working for CRASH, consisting of a corrupted group of police officers. However, Sweet's release from prison, courtesy of Mike Toreno,^[12] allowed the gang to rise again (now co-headed by Carl and Sweet Johnson) and regain most of their lost turf from the Ballas and Vagos. Depending on the player's actions, it is possible to take some or all of the Ballas' and Vagos' turf for the GSF.

GSF members are always seen dressed in green clothing usually consisting of basketball jerseys, green doo rags, green hats, sweatshirts or plaid button-up shirts.

[edit] Ballas

First appearance: GTA:SA

The Ballas are the GSF's primary enemy, having been around since the 1970s.^[13] They are involved in drug dealing, gang banging, prostitution, arms dealing, vandalism, degeneracy, but mainly, the cocaine trade. The Ballas are rivals with GSF and the Aztecas, and have had ties with the Los Santos Vagos, the San Fierro Rifa, and the Loco Syndicate for narcotics, and the Russian Mafia for weapons. The Ballas have also collaborated with CRASH. In addition, Big Smoke defects against the GSF to lead the Ballas with his lieutenant Ryder. Unlike the GSF, the Ballas have no reservations about making money by selling drugs; the spread of crack cocaine into the Grove Street community is part of their strategy to wipe the GSF out.

The Ballas briefly controlled the streets of Los Santos alongside the Vagos after Grove Street leader Sweet Johnson was gunned down and arrested. They controlled the influence of the Families by using crack cocaine to turn GSF members into hopeless addicts totally dependent on them. However, following the release of Sweet from prison and the return of Carl Johnson, the Grove Street Families dominated over the Ballas. The Ballas' Crack Palace was destroyed by Carl Johnson and Ballas influence in Los Santos diminished.

There are four known sets of Ballas: The Front Yard Ballas, The Rollin' Heights Ballas, the Kilo Trays, and the Temple Drive Ballas. It is assumed that the Front Yard Ballas control the turf in central Los Santos; The Rollin' Heights Ballas controlling the outer areas; Kilo Trays controlling more secluded areas and the Temple Drive Ballas controlling the areas around Temple. The Ballas are recognizable by their purple or dark denim blue attire, purple being the identifying colour of the gang.

[edit] East Asian Gangs

[edit] Liberty City Triads

First appearance: GTA III

The Liberty City Triads are a gang made up of people of East Asian origin based in Portland Island, Liberty City. Though the Liberty City Triads appear to be a petty street gang, it is evident that they are beginning to dabble in organized crime; including extortion, most notably that of Mr. Wong's Laundrette, which had been the source of several problems for the Leone Family, as well as pushing drugs for the Colombian Cartel via "Chunky" Lee Chong. They also own The Turtle's Head Fish Factory in Callahan Point, Portland. They are the initial enemy of Claude, while he works for the Leone family. An all-out war between the Triads and the Leones erupted as the Triads attempted to muscle in on Leone businesses in Chinatown. The war concluded after three of the Triad warlords were assassinated and their fish factory was destroyed by a Mafia truck bomb (interestingly enough, the warehouse used to belong to the Leones until the Triads blew it up). While it is improbable to say that the Triads are finished in Liberty City, they have definitely been irrevocably weakened because of the loss of their most powerful front.

In GTA III, Triad members wear blue boiler suits and black bandanas. In GTA:LCS, they wear blue tracksuits with their gang logo on the back, black or blue pants, and black sunglasses.

[edit] San Fierro Triads

First appearance: GTA:SA

The San Fierro Triads are large gangs originating from Hong Kong, who have since moved to San Fierro. There are three Triad factions in San Fierro consisting of a set hierarchy with small sets answering to larger sets; the Blood Feather Triad, which would later be slaughtered by the Da Nang Boys. The Red Gecko Tong led by Ran Fa Li, and the Mountain Cloud Boys, the most prominent gang in the group, operated by the blind Wu Zi Mu and answers to the Red Gecko Tong.

The sets of the SF Triads are heavily involved in joint operations and avoid violent conflict between the Triad factions, with the Mountain Cloud Boys establishing an alliance with the Red Gecko Tong. The SF Triads are also allied with the Grove Street Families, and are rivals with the Italian Mafia, the Da Nang Boys, and the Loco Syndicate.

In addition to their bases of operations in San Fierro, the SF Triads also own and operate a casino hotel venture called The Four Dragons on the Las Venturas Strip; ownership shared between Wu Xi Mu, Ran Fa Li and Carl Johnson. Because of intense Mafia pressure in the city, the Chinese Triads attempted to flex their muscles to show the Mafia that they can hold their own on The Strip. While the SF Triad's prime business is gambling, Woozie has shown motivations towards robbery and street racing.

Carl Johnson, having been exiled from Los Santos after the fall of the Grove Street Families, works for Wu Zi Mu's faction and helps them to destroy the Loco Syndicate and neutralize the Da Nang Boys (the Triads, on the other hand, seem to be on neutral relations with San Fierro's other gang, the Rifa). In return the Triads aid Carl in robbing Caligula's Casino, give him a share in The Four Dragons Casino, and help him in seizing Madd Dogg's mansion back from a drug dealer so the Grove Street Families could spearhead their return. The mansion serves as CJ's own base of operation in his return to Los Santos.

SF Triad members don all-black suits or all-grey suits. While the Triad gang members appear on the streets in Chinatown, Calton Heights & Financial, San Fierro, they do not appear on Las Venturas streets, even areas surrounding The Four Dragons Casino.

[edit] Vice City Triads

First appearance: GTA:VC

The Vice City-based Triad is a gang that appears and are mentioned only briefly in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City. They are only known to have been involved in counterfeiting business, supplying printing plates of money to an unspecified Florida-based counterfeiting syndicate^[14] They are prominently involved in one mission where Tommy Vercetti is assigned to break into a shipping container and extract information from the boss of the gang on the location of a printing plate shipment. The gang is also known to run a shipping company at Viceport,^[15] Vice City's harbor, where this gang is operating from a ship.

[edit] Liberty City Yakuza

First appearance: GTA III

The Liberty City Yakuza is a Japanese criminal organization operating in Liberty City, assumed to have been around since the 1970s, headed by siblings Asuka Kasen and Kenji Kasen. Initially, Claude was invited by the Yakuza to work for them. However, while working for Donald Love, Claude frames the Colombian Cartel for the assassination of Kenji, resulting in a war between the Yakuza and the Cartel. Angered by the death of her brother, Asuka vowed to "hunt down" the Colombian Cartel with the help of Claude, while capturing and torturing Cartel member Miguel for information. In the process, the Yakuza also took Fort Staunton, a Cartel turf. Later, Asuka is killed by Cartel members, although Fort Staunton remains in the control of the Yakuza. The successor to the Yakuza's leadership remains in doubt. The Yakuza is the only significant gang that aids Claude throughout its appearance in Grand Theft Auto III.

In Liberty City Stories, the Yakuza are led by Kazuki Kasen, Kenji's older brother. While not a major power in Liberty City yet, they are stocking up on weapons (including a tank) and are prepared to claim a large portion of the city as their turf. Their efforts are thwarted by Leone Caporegime Toni Cipriani with the help of Kazuki's angry wife, Toshiko, however they are sucessful in taking the Torrington district, including the Sindacco owned Big Shot Casino, which they then change to Kenji's Casino by GTA III.

Yakuza members wear colorful suits and jewelry. In GTA:LCS, Yakuza members sport tattoos.

[edit] Da Nang Boys

First appearance: GTA:SA

The Da Nang Boys (named after the Vietnam region and city of Da Nang) is a Vietnamese criminal organization based in San Fierro, preparing a full move to the US. Extremely violent, with major interests in protection, narcotics and human trafficking, they control the dockland/bay area in Easter Basin and possibly a freight ship anchored out in San Fierro bay, often causing disturbance. The Da Nang Boys are also at war with local Triad gangs and were responsible for the massacre of the Blood Feather Triad. With the help of CJ, the Triads responded with an aerial massacre on one of the Da Nang Boy's freight ships, resulting in the deaths of many members and their leader, the Snakehead.

While the Da Nang Boys is portrayed as a major Vietnamese gang in the city, two other sects, the Shining Razors and the Butterfly Children, were mentioned in the game and in the official San Andreas website, and are said to be active in Easter Basin.

The Da Nang Boys are seen wearing either street attire (in the form of Army t-shirts and pants), or traditional robes.

[edit] Hispanic Gangs

[edit] Colombian Cartel

First appearance: GTA III

The Colombian Cartel (aka the "Cartel" in Grand Theft Auto Advance) is a Hispanic shadowy organization and the main group of antagonists in GTA III. They are exceptionally well armed, and are led by Catalina and Miguel to produce and supply the drug SPANK in Liberty City. It is suggested by Liberty City police records that the Colombian Cartel may be using local airport and harbor freight as a front to smuggle the SPANK drug into Liberty City, although they have yet to thoroughly prove this. After Claude's feud with the Liberty City Triads ceases, he faces the Columbian Cartel as a new and worse enemy for the rest of the game.

While listening to the DJ on Rise FM in Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories he mentions having tried a new drug on the street called "SPANK". This means that SPANK was at least in production in 1998. Miguel was leading this cartel during this period as well; Catalina did not join the organization until 2001, when she shot her boyfriend Claude and took off with money the pair had just robbed from a bank. There are hints during various cutscenes in GTA III that she and Miguel are lovers and she has used the money from the robbery to heighten her standing in the Cartel.

Miguel is later linked to the assassination of Yakuza leader Kenji Kasen,^[16] although he actually had nothing to do with it (real estate mogul Donald Love ordered Claude to make it look like the Cartel's doing to spark a gang war and drive real estate prices down^[17]). He is later tied up in the incomplete skyscraper in Fort Staunton by Kenji's sister Asuka and tortured non-stop for days^[18] on end until he is killed by the Cartel when they kidnap Maria and kill Asuka. Catalina assumes command of the Cartel herself. After killing Asuka and trying to escape in a helicopter, her vehicle is shot down by Claude as revenge for shooting him in the opening.

It is apparent that the Cartel is linked to Panlantic Construction, a company serving as both a legitimate construction company and a front for illegal operations. In Liberty City Stories, Cartel members were hired by Panlantic as bodyguards for Avery Carrington,^[19] who was working for Panlantic and arrived in Liberty City to acquire real estate for development. After Avery was killed by Toni Cipriani, Donald Love took over negotiations with Panlantic to seal the deal on developing Fort Staunton, which would be later destroyed by bombs planted by Cipriani. In GTA III, the construction site in Fort Staunton would serve as turf for the Cartel before it was seized by the Yakuza.

In Grand Theft Auto Advance, the gang was initially allied to Advance protagonist Mike, but would later turn against him after suspecting Mike of killing then Cartel leader Cisco^[20] (which is revealed to have been the work of Vinnie^[21]). He was probably succeeded by Miguel. At one point in Advance, Cisco centered his gang operations at Francis International, Liberty City's airport.^[22]

Cartel members wear Hawaiian shirts, combat pants, hats resembling Akubras and boots in GTA III. In GTA:LCS, the same members wear red or blue shirts with brown vests, pairs of pants and jewelry.

[edit] Diablos

First appearance: GTA III

The Diablos are a Puerto Rican gang. They are a fairly small gang, and not very well armed. The leader of the Diablos is El Burro (who has been under observation by police since 1997, as mentioned in GTA III's official website). The only activities known to be associated with the Diablos are street violence and pornography,^[23] although they had also been known to engage in gun battles with the Liberty City Triads.^[24] They also appear to be having spats with the Yardies for dissing Queen Lizzy,^[25] and with the Yakuza for trying to steal some protection money, both times ending up in the slaughter of a large number of Diablo gang members.

Diablo members are seen wearing dark blue jackets donning the Diablos gang logo (a yellow crown) at the back, long pants and bandanas. In GTA:LCS, Diablos members don fishnets or red skullcaps on their heads, red shirts, and black or brown pants.

[edit] Cholos

First appearance: GTA:VCS

In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the Cholos are the dominant gang in the Little Havana district of Vice City. They are in conflict on various fronts - Phil Cassidy is fighting them for gun running dominance, while Marty Jay Williams and the Trailer Park Mafia is fighting them for dominance of nearly every other criminal activity. Their control over Little Havana begins to be threatened in 1984, when Los Cabrones arrives on the scene, sparking a deadly turf war for complete control of the neighborhood. They even attempt to kill the father of the Los Cabrones leader, Alberto Robina. After the attack, Umberto (the Leader) decides to launch an all out attack on the Cholos, which eventually results in the Cholos defeat. The Cholos then only own little Haiti as turf, and they are completely wiped out by the time of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City after the Los Cabrones, with the help of Victor Vance, won the turf war for Little Havana.

[edit] Diaz's gang

First appearance: GTA:VC

Drug baron Ricardo Diaz's unnamed drug cartel (mentioned in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City as "Diaz's gang", emphasis there on the lower case "gang")^[26] was a Vice City-based Colombian drug cartel, which erupted into large power circa 1984.

Prior to Tommy Vercetti's takeover of Vice City, the gang was the dominant drug cartel in Vice City, with Ricardo's aggressive interest in staying on top of the drug smuggling business a defining factor. He is seen requesting the theft of the fastest speed boat in the city for smuggling activities, and killing those who attempt to cut into his profits, even though it only comprises a small percentage. In addition, Diaz's gang is believed to have botched Tommy's initial drug deal with the Vance brothers (consisting of Lance and Victor) forcing Tommy to leave behind (and lose) both the money and narcotic merchandise as he fled the scene.

Tommy Vercetti was given the opportunity to work for Ricardo, while Lance Vance infiltrated the gang under a different name. As Tommy continued to work for Ricardo and planned for a takeover of Ricardo's empire, Lance attempted the overthrow prematurely, failing to kill Ricardo and resulting in his capture and torture by the gang, before Tommy rushed to the rescue. This event forced the two to raid the Diaz Mansion and kill Ricardo before Ricardo "takes them out", killing many of Diaz's men on the way. The killing of Ricardo effectively ended the Diaz Cartel as Ricardo's mansion and all of his assets were seized by the Vercettis and there were no longer any Diaz gang members seen anywhere in the Vice City's storyline (apart from in rampages).

[edit] Cuban Gang/Los Cabrones

First appearance: GTA:VC

The Cuban Gang (as named in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City), also known as the Los Cabrones (as named in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories), is a Cuban-American gang led by Umberto Robina.

In Vice City, circa 1986, the Cuban gang is the perpetual enemy of the Haitian gang. Tommy Vercetti fought in the gang war between these two groups for both sides, but because the Haitian Gang tricked Vercetti into working with them, he completely destroyed them and allied himself with the Cuban Gang, who remain allied with the very powerful Vercetti Gang. Umberto and Alberto Robina are personally on good terms with Tommy and regard him as Cuban. The Cuban Gang are also involved in the cocaine trade. In Vice City Stories, the gang, two years prior, is dubbed "Los Cabrones" and is the sworn enemy of the Cholos, another Hispanic gang based nearby. Gang war erupts between the Los Cabrones and the Cholos, which would see the former emerging as the victor.

The name for the Cuban gang was probably changed to Los Cabrones for Vice City Stories by Rockstar in order to avoid another backlash similar to that from the Haitian community after the first Vice City

In their appearance in Vice City, the Cuban Gang/Los Cabrones members are seen wearing white sleeveless shirts, red bandanas and jeans, or a fedora hat, light yellow shirts and black pants.

[edit] Los Santos Vagos

First appearance: GTA:SA

Los Santos Vagos (literally translated from Spanish to English as "The Saints Lazy" is a Mexican gang found to be in league with the Ballas.

Los Santos Vagos, like the Ballas, pose a threat to Carl Johnson when they see him and they can engage in gang wars. The Vagos and the Grove Street Families have intense rivalry, but the Vagos biggest rivals of all are their Mexican counterparts, Los Aztecas. After Carl and Cesar Vialpando (the Aztecas' Leader) were exiled from Los Santos, the Vagos took away all of the Aztecas's territory, until the return of the Grove Street Families allowed Carl and Cesar to regain the territory. They were once known to be rivals of the San Fierro Rifa, but have come into good terms with them due to drug trafficking between them.

Heavily involved in the drug trade, they had a major involvement in Big Smoke's short lived, but once powerful cocaine empire. The Vagos' Leader, Big Poppa, even gained the mansion of rapper Madd Dogg when he was unable to pay off his debt (until Carl and the San Andreas Triads launched an offensive on the mansion, with Carl personally killing Big Poppa). The Vagos are seen wearing yellow bandanas.

[edit] Varrios Los Aztecas

First appearance: GTA:SA

Significantly less prominent than the Vagos, the Varrios Los Aztecas are a Mexican gang and are led by Cesar Vialpando. They have a friendship with the Grove Street Families due to Cesar dating and intending to marry Kendl Johnson, his close friendship with Carl Johnson, and due to the gangs having common enemies, but this is far from solid. Indeed, Varrios will still challenge Carl Johnson if they see him on the streets, calling out insults against the Grove Street Families gang and attacking with fists or weapons. They will attack other GSF members on sight, and vice versa. The Varrios are rivals with the Vagos and the San Fierro Rifa, and are also believed to be on bad terms with the Ballas.

The Varrios are traditionally anti-narcotics, with heavy involvement in gun running and street violence, and they only have a few territories compared to other gangs, and these are clustered around the south-western areas of Eastern Los Santos. Varrios Los Aztecas members are mostly seen wearing turquoise bandanas and sunglasses, dressed in 'cholo' style clothing.

[edit] San Fierro Rifa

First appearance: GTA:SA

The Rifa is the sole Mexican gang based in San Fierro, later seen to be collaborating with the Ballas and Vagos in the narcotics business. The Rifa also appear to work as thugs for the Loco Syndicate, possibly because Rifa leader T-Bone Mendez is a co-leader of the Loco Syndicate. The Rifa also had a dislike towards Mexican gangs in Los Santos, until they joined the narcotics business linked to the Los Santos Vagos. They appear to be rather neutral with the local Chinese Triads and the Vietnamise Da Nang Boys.

Although the Rifa are known for various clashes with Grove Street Families member Carl Johnson, they are normally not hostile towards the Families. They are the least threatening and violent on the streets; when the player attacks them, they usually run. Rifa members are mostly recognizable with their light blue bandanas or white hats.

Despite the death of their leader, T-Bone Mendez, the gang remains in existence in their turf throughout San Fierro, although following the destruction of their crack lab and the closure of the Loco Syndicate, it is unknown if they are involved in the drugs trade any further

[edit] Mendez Cartel

First appearance: GTA:VCS

The Mendez Cartel was a very powerful drug cartel operating out of Vice City in the early 80's. They arrive in Vice City around the same time as Victor and supply drugs to numerous high ranking officers at Fort Baxter. The Mendez Cartel also own the mansion on Prawn Island that is eventually taken over by the Streetwannabe's in between 1984 and 1986. It is never disclosed whether they are related to San Fierro Rifa gang leader T-Bone Mendez; it could be coincidence they share a last name. After Victor Vance kills Armando and then Diego Mendez, the Cartel is officially disbanded.

Strangely, they are only seen inside their mansion and not the areas surrounding it.

In Vice City Stories, Mendez Cartel members are depicted as wearing suits, with light colored shirts underneath, as well as having a notable moustache.

[edit] Afro-Caribbean Gangs

[edit] Yardies

First appearance: GTA III

The Yardies are a Jamaican gang, led by King Courtney. They are secretly in league with the Colombian Cartel and are known to push SPANK onto Staunton Island.^[27] The Yardies and the Diablos are fighting against each other, due to derogatory comments about Queen Lizzy.^[28] Yardie members are seen with dreadlocks and wear ex-army attire in GTA III, while renditions in GTA: LCS depict them in brightly colored tank tops, with or without a yellow T-shirt worn inside, jeans and brown boots.

In GTA: LCS it is revealed that Leone capo Toni Cipriani helped the Yardies take over their turf in Newport from the Forelli Family as a way to help corrupt cop Leon McAffrey repay an unknown favour to the Yardies that they did for him.

Their use of Jamaican English and modern street slang with their heavy Jamaican accents make them relatively difficult to understand on occasions without the use of game subtitles.

[edit] Haitian Gang

First appearance: GTA:VC

The Cuban Gang's main rivals for control of the poorer neighborhoods of Vice City is the Haitian Gang, led by Auntie Poulet. Auntie Poulet gives Tommy Vercetti mind-altering drugs to make him use less-than-honest tactics in their war against the Cuban Gang. Vercetti, angered and spurred by his friendship with the Cuban Gang, utterly massacres members of the Haitian Gang and completely destroys their large drug manufacturing plant (killing many more members in the process), thereby severing all ties with Poulet and her gang.

Haitian Gang members are seen wearing either blue shirts (reading RELAX), white pants and baseball caps, or sky blue sleeveless shirts, jeans and bandanas.

[edit] Caucasian American Gangs

[edit] Biker Gang

First appearance: GTA:VC

Simply put, "the biggest family of misfits, outcasts and badasses," as quoted by their leader, Big Mitch Baker. A group of stereotypical bikers, they wear leather, give off a gruff, tough persona, have long beards and hair, wear biker attire and ride chopper style motorcycles. Circa 1986, they are the only gang, along with the Cuban Gang, that Tommy Vercetti opens relations without forcibly taking it over. The Hells Angels biker gang is a likely inspiration of the gang, as there were later seen to be hired as security for a concert of the hair metal band Love Fist. This is an obvious reference to The Rolling Stones' show at Altamont, where Hells Angels were hired as security and an Angel stabbed a member of the crowd. They are heavily influenced by German Culture, for some of them have EisernKruez (Iron Cross) tattoos on their shoulders, as well as wearing Pickelhaubes.

In Vice City Stories the Biker Gang are revealed to be a large gang owning several businesses across Vice City. It is assumed that due to Victor Vance's takeovers that the once large gang is reduced to only the Greasy Chopper Bar Downtown by GTA: Vice City.

Victor Vance also stumbles into a homosexual, racist subsect of the gang, the Stallionz. The Stallionz are not to be confused as the whole Biker Gang itself, for they only own a portion of the territories the Biker Gang owns. The entire Gang is also wiped out by Victor Vance.

[edit] Trailer Park Mafia

First appearance: GTA:VCS

The "Trailer Park Mafia" was the name given to the former redneck gang in GTA:VCS based in a trailer park surrounding the Sunshine Autos Car Showroom, circa 1984. Their influence spanned to Vice City's poorer communities, bringing further suffering to this bracket of the city's population.^[29] Their leader, Marty Jay Williams, was murdered by Victor Vance in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories after being prevented from kidnapping his own wife, Louise. Victor and his brother Lance then acquired the Mafia's businesses and the gang disbanded.

In Vice City Stories Trailer Park Mafia members are depicted wearing shirts donning the Confederate flag or tank tops and tattered jeans.

[edit] Other Gangs

[edit] Vance Crime Family

First appearance: GTA:VCS

At the beginning of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and during Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the Vance Crime Family is only made up of two main members, Victor and Lance Vance, of which Victor is the leader. Victor and Lance grew up poor and try drug trafficking to make a profit to live on and provide medical costs for their ill brother, Pete Vance after Victor is thrown out of the The United States Army. The Vance Crime Family was known to have seized control of many businesses and assets and became a large scale operation. However, after the events of Vice City Stories, in which Victor and Lance agree to leave Vice City temporarily and "live off" the money they had made, the fate of the Vance Crime Family is unknown. Apart from the fact that two years later, in 1986, Vice City is under the control of the Vercetti Gang, Lance Vance was actually killed by Tommy Vercetti in 1986 and Victor was thought to be killed by members of Diaz's gang so it is almost certain the organization was dissolved.

[edit] Russian Mafia

First appearance: GTA:SA

The Russian Mafia only appear in San Andreas for a short time, wearing a black t-shirt or grey sweater, jacket and pants. Though they have no permanent stake in San Andreas, they have claimed the Atrium as a temporary turf in a mission, and also appear in league with the Ballas, Vagos and Rifas in Big Smoke's "Crack Palace."

[edit] Loco Syndicate

First appearance: GTA:SA

While better classified as a joint business venture between several criminals, the Loco Syndicate was a collective outfit dealing with drugs, primarily cocaine. The Syndicate had its main operations based in San Fierro, and was made up of San Fierro's most powerful pimp Jizzy B, the leader of the San Fierro Rifa T-Bone Mendez and the mysterious businessman (later revealed to be an undercover Government agent) Mike Toreno. Former Grove Street Family OG Big Smoke, who started up a large crack-cocaine empire, would later established a business deal with the Syndicate, sending his number two man, Ryder, as his formal representative to conduct business. The Loco Syndicate was the largest drug cartel in San Fierro and one of the most powerful in San Andreas, before Carl Johnson killed Ryder, Jizzy B and T-Bone Mendez. When the Loco Syndicate was consequently disbanded, Toreno returned to his usual duties and Big Smoke's narcotics empire ceased transactions with San Fierro.

[edit] Streetwannabes/Sharks

First appearance: GTA:VC

The Streetwannabes/Sharks is a gang of thugs that hang out around outside the North Point Mall and in several dilapadated mansions in Prawn Island as of GTA: VC, but are hardly a threat to any of the other gangs in Vice City. The only highlight of their gang's history was being part of an aerial massacre that resulted in many of them getting killed. It is also suggested that they are involved in arms running. They apparently are on bad terms with Mitch Baker's Biker Gang and in one mission they even steal his prized motorcycle and keep it captive in a motor garage in Downtown. The leader of the gang (name unknown) betrays Ricardo Diaz and steals his shipment of drugs and orders the killing of him (and many other members in the aforementioned aerial slaughter).

The Streetwannabes are known as Sharks in Vice City Stories and are located in the East island of Vice City; they manage a number of companies, which Victor eventually takes over. An interesting note is that, after Victor takes over one of their businesses, Streetwannabes do not back down in their attacks until all of their businesses have been taken. Often, they chase Victor in their Gang Ranchers, or sometimes destroy his empire sites.

They are listed as the "Streetwannabe's," with use of the apostrophe, in the Vice City stats, but the Shark logos on the back of their denim jackets, along with graffiti on buildings and their gang cars, has led some to call them the Sharks. The Streetwannabes are mostly seen wearing denim jackets, jeans and red bandanas.

Of interesting note is that certain unrelated "gangs" in Vice City are also listed as Streetwannabes. This includes army soldiers and "gangs" that show up in certain missions, such as the Forellis in the final mission, the attackers in the "All Hands on Deck!" mission, and the courier and bodyguards of a counterfeiting syndicate in the "Hit the Courier" mission (it is unknown why the counterfeiting syndicate is made up of women).

[edit] Patrol Invest Group (P.I.G.s)

The Patrol Invest Group, referred to collectively as the P.I.G.s, is a security firm that mainly operates as a legitimate security force in Vice City, but they are involved in some illegal protection services. Their "turf," so to speak, are the areas of North Point Mall, Escobar International Airport, Leaf Links Golf Club and Prawn Island. The P.I.G.s have also been hired as protection for Congressman Alex Shrub and the band Love Fist. They appear to attack the Streetwannabes and VCPD police officers more than other gangs or organizations. They appear many times throughout GTA:VC, most notably during the mission where they attempt to move in on some of Tommy's protection rackets in Ocean Beach, in which Tommy then decides to wipe out the guards involved and destroy their office. They also have links to the Vice City Triads, helping them with their illegal money printing operation by providing protection for them.

[edit] Notes and References