Caribbean Gang Franchises linked operationally to Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations.
I indicated since 2003 that the Mara Salvatuchra or MS 13 , and the Trinitarios (the Dominicano gang active throughout the US , St Thomas, St Croix, Belize and peripherally through proxies in some Antillean islands), are the proxies of some powerful Mexican “ narco-cartels ” . Increasingly Caribbean gangs are as I have stated previously, displaying certain characteristics most often associated with terrorist organizations i.e. kidnappings used as a political bargaining chip whilst simultaneously using kidnapping as a revenue stream, their use of highly sophisticated military grade weapons, tactics of dismemberment of rivals and even civilians as a means of sowing terror and fear in their opposition, local populations and the elite within the state apparatus. Drug trafficking is viewed as a primary threat to citizen security and U.S. interests in Latin America and the Caribbean despite decades of anti-drug efforts by the United States and partner ...