Gang's name tattooed on gang member's back. |
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| In | California |
|---|---|
| Years active | 1968 - Present |
| Territory | Mainly the West Coast primarily in Southern California, but as far South as Central America and Mexico. Surenos are active in every major city in every U.S. State.[1] |
| Ethnicity | Multiethnic but predominately Hispanic |
| Criminal activities | Murder, drug trafficking, extortion, assault, theft, robbery, fraud, and arms trafficking. |
| Allies | Mexican Mafia, Sinaloa Cartel[2], Tijuana Cartel[2] |
| Rivals | Norteños, Nuestra Familia, Fresno Bulldogs,[3] Crips, Bloods and various other Black Gangs. |
Sureños, or Sureñas for females, are groups of loosely affiliated street gangs.[4] Sureño is a Umbrella term used to describe various street gangs that pay tribute to the Mexican Mafia while in Federal and State correctional facilities. Many Sureño gangs have rivalry with one another and the only time this rivalry is set aside is when they enter the prison system.[5] Thus, fighting is common among different Sureño gangs even though they share the same common identity.
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The Sureños main stronghold is in Southern California where they originated. They have successfully migrated into every major city in every state in the United States as well as Canada, the US Military, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. There are unconfirmed reports of their presence in various South American countries as well. Many larger criminal street gangs claim 13 under the Sureño banner such as the 18th Street gang, Playboys gang, and Mara Salvatrucha. Contrary to common belief among Sureños, Norteños still outnumber Sureños 4-to-1 in Central California.[6] Northern States such as Oregon, Washington and Alaska have seen a substantial increases in street gangs under the Sureño and Norteño banners. Eastern Washington is almost exclusively either a Sureño or Norteño territory with the only exception being Spokane, Washington.[7]
The term "Sureños” means Southerner in Spanish. Even though Sureño's were established in 1968, the term was not used until the 1970's as a result of the continued conflict between the Mexican Mafia and Nuestra Familia in California's prison system.[8] As a result of these prison wars, all Hispanic California street gangs align themselves with the Sureño or Norteño movement with very few exceptions such as the Fresno Bulldogs and the Maravilla gangs of East Los Angeles. When a Sureño is asked what being a Sureño means, gang members, without exception, answer, “A Sureño is a foot soldier for the Mexican Mafia.”[9] Their biggest enemies are the Norteños (Northerners) that claim allegiance to the Nuestra Familia, various Crips, Bloods and the Fresno Bulldogs in Fresno, California.
Sureños use the number 13 which represents the thirteenth letter of the alphabet, the letter M, in order to pay allegiance to the Mexcan Mafia.[10] Common Sureño gang markings and tattoos include, but are not limited to: Sur, XIII, X3, 13, Sur13, uno tres, trece and 3-dots. In many parts of the country they will identify themselves with the color blue and include wearing sports clothing from teams such as the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Kings (sometimes), Los Angeles Lakers, San Diego Padres, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and San Jose Sharks. Most Sureños are of Hispanic decent, but some Sureño gangs allow members from various other ethnic backgrounds to join their ranks making Sureños multiethnic. The most important things that all Sureños must live by is respect and loyalty. These traits are highly valued and anything seen as a violation of respect or loyalty can result in lethal retaliation. Although what is heard in the news is only violence perpetuated by criminal street gangs, most of the time gang members are not engaged in criminal activity. Many social street gangs have infamous reputations, but spend most of their time socializing with other members of their gang and do not actually engage in daily criminal acts.[11]
Sureño groups are involved in every aspect of criminal activity from homicides,[13] drug trafficking[14], kidnapping, and even violent cases of domestic violence against their own girlfriends and family.[15]. There have been many high profile criminal cases involving Sureños in a variety of states. In Washington State there are some Playboy Sureños on trial for shootings at a car show up in Kent Washington earlier this year. This case has attracted a lot of media coverage in the state.[16][17]
These links are for personal reference only and do not necessarily reflect the content listed here.
Sureño Rap Music: [1]
Hispanic Street Gangs in Los Angeles County: [2]
The Mexican Mafia Prison Gang: [3]
The University of Maryland: [4]