10. Albanian mafia
The Albanian mafia, also known as Albanian organized crime, is a general term used for criminal organizations based in Albania or composed of ethnic Albanians. Albanian organized crime is active in Europe, North America, South America, and various other parts of the world including the Middle East and Asia. The Albanian Mafia participates in a diverse range of criminal enterprises including trafficking in drugs, arms, and humans. They have close ties with the ‘Ndrangheta of Calabria and control a large part of the billion-dollar wholesale cocaine market in Europe.
Albanian organized crime is characterized by diversified criminal enterprises which, in their complexity, demonstrate a very high criminal capacity. In Albania, there are over 15 mafia families that control organized crime. The Albanian mafia has monopolized various international affiliations, from as far east as Israel to as far west as South America. These reports primarily indicate a strong connection between politicians and various Albanian mafia families.
The Albanian Mafia is considered dangerous due to its involvement in violent activities, its close ties with other powerful criminal organizations, and its ability to operate on an international scale.
9. Los Zetas
Los Zetas is a Mexican criminal syndicate that was formed in 1997 as the enforcement arm of the drug-trafficking Gulf Cartel. In 2010, it broke away and became an independent organized criminal enterprise. The group is known for its violent tactics, including beheadings, torture, and indiscriminate murder. While primarily concerned with drug trafficking, the organization also runs profitable sex and gun rackets. Los Zetas also operate through protection rackets, assassinations, extortion, kidnappings and other illegal activities.
Despite losing some of its power in recent times, Los Zetas is still considered dangerous due to its history of brutal violence and its ability to operate on an international scale. The group has a tight organizational structure and is known for its sophisticated use of technology in its operations. It is actively pursued by law enforcement agencies in Mexico and the United States.
8. 14K (Triad)
The 14K triad is a criminal organization based in Hong Kong but active internationally. It is the second-largest triad group in the world, with around 20,000 members split into thirty subgroups. The 14K triad is involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, counterfeiting, illegal gambling, bookmaking, arms trafficking, arson, fraud, human trafficking, identity theft, money laundering, extortion, murder, illegal immigration, kidnapping, hacking, racketeering and home invasion robberies.
The 14K triad is considered dangerous due to its involvement in violent activities and its ability to operate on an international scale. The group has a tight organizational structure and is known for its sophisticated operations. It is actively pursued by law enforcement agencies in Hong Kong and other countries where it operates.
7. Bloods and Crips
The Bloods and Crips are two rival street gangs based in Los Angeles, California. The Crips were formed in 1969 by Raymond Washington and Stanley Williams, while the Bloods were formed in 1972 in response to the growing influence of the Crips.
Both gangs are primarily African-American and are known for their involvement in illegal activities such as drug trafficking, robbery, and murder.
The Bloods and Crips are considered dangerous due to their involvement in violent activities and their ongoing rivalry, which has resulted in many deaths and injuries. Both gangs have a significant impact on the communities where they operate and are actively pursued by law enforcement agencies.
The deadly rivalry between the Bloods and Crips, born on the streets of Los Angeles, has resulted in endless violence. Like two fierce titans clashing, their turf wars involve drug distribution, illegal weapon trade, and a relentless thirst for dominance.
18th Street gang
The 18th Street gang, also known as Calle 18, Barrio 18, Mara 18, or simply La 18 in Central America, is a multi-ethnic transnational criminal organization that started as a street gang in Los Angeles in the 1960s. The gang is one of the largest transnational criminal gangs in Los Angeles, with an estimated 50,000 members between the United States, Mexico, and Central America.
The gang is involved in a wide range of criminal activities including drug trafficking, assault, arson, robbery, kidnapping, pandering, money laundering, extortion, arms trafficking, human trafficking, theft, murder and racketeering.
The 18th Street gang is considered dangerous due to its involvement in violent activities and its ability to operate on an international scale. The gang has a tight organizational structure and is known for its sophisticated operations. It is actively pursued by law enforcement agencies in the United States and other countries where it operates.
Jalisco New Generation Cartel
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is a Mexican criminal organization based in Jalisco, headed by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho”. The CJNG is considered one of the most dangerous and violent criminal organizations in Mexico and has expanded its operations to several other countries.
The cartel is involved in a wide range of criminal activities including drug trafficking, arms trafficking, human trafficking, people smuggling, murder, kidnapping, torture, racketeering, extortion, petroleum theft, assault, prostitution and money laundering.
The CJNG is considered ultra-violent due to its use of extreme violence to assert its dominance and control over territories. The group is known for its brutal tactics, including beheadings, torture and indiscriminate murder. It poses a significant threat to public safety and is actively pursued by law enforcement agencies in Mexico and the United States.
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) has rapidly risen through Mexico’s criminal ranks. Like a blazing inferno, they spread terror through direct confrontations with law enforcement and rivals.
Clan del Golfo
The Clan del Golfo, also known as the Gulf Clan, is a Colombian neo-paramilitary group and currently the country’s largest drug cartel. The group was formerly known as Los Urabeños and Clan Úsuga. The Clan del Golfo is involved in a wide range of criminal activities including drug trafficking, arms trafficking, human trafficking, people smuggling, murder, kidnapping, torture, racketeering, extortion, petroleum theft, assault, prostitution and money laundering.
The Clan del Golfo is considered dangerous due to its involvement in violent activities and its ability to operate on an international scale. The group has a tight organizational structure and is known for its sophisticated operations. It is actively pursued by law enforcement agencies in Colombia and other countries where it operates.
The ‘Ndrangheta
The ‘Ndrangheta is a powerful Italian Mafia-type organized crime syndicate based in the Calabria region of Italy. It is considered one of the most powerful organized crime groups in the world and has established itself worldwide since the 1950s. The ‘Ndrangheta is characterized by a horizontal structure made up of autonomous clans known as ‘ndrine, based almost exclusively on blood ties. Its main activity is drug trafficking, on which it has a near monopoly in Europe, but it also deals with arms trafficking, money laundering, racketeering, extortion, loan sharking, and prostitution.
The ‘Ndrangheta enjoys a privileged relationship with the main South American cartels, which consider it their most reliable European partner. It is capable of heavily influencing local and national politics and infiltrating large sectors of the legal economy.
The ‘Ndrangheta is considered more dangerous than previous Mafias due to its ability to operate on an international scale and its sophisticated operations. The group has a tight organizational structure and is known for its use of violence to assert its dominance and control over territories. It poses a significant threat to public safety and is actively pursued by law enforcement agencies in Italy and other countries where it operates.
Sinaloa Cartel
The Sinaloa Cartel is a large, international organized crime syndicate that specializes in illegal drug trafficking and money laundering. It was established in Mexico during the late 1980s as one of a various number of subordinate “plazas” operating under a predecessor organization known as the Guadalajara Cartel. The Sinaloa Cartel is primarily involved in the distribution of cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, fentanyl, cannabis and MDMA.
It is currently headed by Ismael Zambada García and is based in the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa, with operations in many world regions but primarily in the Mexican states of Sinaloa, Baja California, Durango, Sonora, and Chihuahua.
Despite ongoing internal conflicts within the cartel, such as the reported power struggle between El Chapo’s sons and El Mayo, the Sinaloa Cartel is still considered dangerous and most powerful cartel due to its involvement in violent activities and its ability to operate on an international scale. The group has a tight organizational structure and is known for its sophisticated use of technology in its operations. It poses a significant threat to public safety and is actively pursued by law enforcement agencies in Mexico and the United States.
MS-13
MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles, California, in the 1980s. The gang was set up to protect Salvadoran immigrants from other gangs in the Los Angeles area. Over time, the gang grew into a more traditional criminal organization. MS-13 is known for its involvement in drug trafficking, alien smuggling, weapons trafficking, murder, rape, assault, kidnapping, identification theft, prostitution, robbery, auto theft, extortion, and vandalism.
MS-13 is considered dangerous due to its involvement in violent activities and its ability to operate on an international scale. The gang has a significant impact on the communities where it operates and is actively pursued by law enforcement agencies. MS-13 is known for its brutal tactics and its use of violence to assert its dominance and control over territories.
