New Jersey is dealing with a major gang problem, with over 35,000 gang members identified thus far and an estimated increase to over 50,000 by the end of the year.
These gangs are responsible for the majority of violent and property crimes in the state, and some have expanded to other regions of the world. Here are five of the most deadly gangs sweeping over New Jersey and frightening its citizens.
1. Bloods
The Bloods are a well-known African American street gang that formed in Los Angeles during the 1970s. The gang has various factions and subdivisions, some of which are active in New Jersey, particularly North Jersey.
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The group is engaged in a variety of illegal operations, including drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, and murder. The gang is also noted for its feud with the Crips, another African American street gang, and for using the color red and the five-pointed star as insignia.
2. Crips
The Crips are another well-known African American street gang that formed in Los Angeles in the 1960s. The gang has various divisions and subcategories, some of which are active in New Jersey, particularly North Jersey.
The group is engaged in a variety of illegal operations, including drug trafficking, robbery, extortion, and murder. The gang is also known for its feud with the Bloods and for using the color blue and the six-pointed star as insignia.
3. MS-13
MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is one of the world’s most known and dangerous street gangs, originating in El Salvador and Los Angeles. The gang operates in New Jersey, where it engages in narcotics trafficking, extortion, murder, and people smuggling.
MS-13 is infamous for its harsh techniques, which include beheading, dismembering, and torturing competitors and victims. The gang has also been tied to some high-profile homicides in New Jersey, including the death of a 16-year-old teenager in Long Branch in 2018.
4. Ghost Face Gangsters
Ghost Face Gangsters is a white supremacist prison gang founded in New Jersey in the late 1990s. The gang now has over 2,000 members, both inside and outside of jail, and has spread to neighboring states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia.
Also read: These Five Most Dangerous Gangs Are Taking Over California
The gang is involved in drug trafficking, robbery, assault, and murder and is known for its ruthlessness and violence. The group has also been accused of multiple attacks on law enforcement authorities, including the shooting of a state trooper in 2019.
5. Hells Angels Motorcycle Club
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle gang that originated in the 1940s. The gang operates chapters throughout New Jersey, where it engages in narcotics trafficking, extortion, racketeering, and murder.
The gang has previously clashed with other motorcycle gangs such as the Pagans and the Outlaws, as well as with government enforcement authorities. The group has also been charged with other crimes in New Jersey, including the murder of a radio DJ in 2012.
Summary
In summary, New Jersey is dealing with a major gang problem, with over 35,000 members likely to grow to 50,000. The Bloods and Crips, two notable African American street gangs, as well as MS-13, Ghost Face Gangsters, and the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, all contribute to an increase in violent and property crime. These gangs, notorious for their violent methods, feuds with rival organizations, and illegal activities, represent a danger to the safety of New Jersey residents.