SUMMARY

MS-13 was notorious for its systematic use of violence to control territories and instill fear within civilian populations across the regions where it operated, including those perceived as sympathetic to rival gangs. This violence was aimed at gaining and maintaining territorial dominance, as well as discouraging any resistance or cooperation with authorities.

The violence perpetrated by MS-13 against civilians included a wide range of tactics, including massacres, targeted killings, and executions, as well as the burning of passenger buses and the use of improvised explosive devices. The group also employed bladed weapons such as machetes and blunt instruments in close-range attacks against victims. Business owners, street vendors, and residents were frequently forced to pay protection money under threat of violence or death, with non-compliance resulting in severe reprisals that oftentimes extended to their family members. Retaliation against civilians perceived to have collaborated with law enforcement or rival groups was also a recurrent practice.

The gang’s use of one-sided violence was documented across multiple countries, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras](/#/country/91), Mexico and the United States.

MS-13 first became active as a one-sided actor in UCDP data in 2003, when the one-sided violence resulted in over 25 civilian deaths. The threshold was reached in the second half of 2003, with several attacks in the San Pedro Sula municipality in Honduras.