latin gang, more violent than the Latin Kings, called Las Maras, could be established in Spain within three years.

CENTRAL AMERICA: Youth Gangs – Reserve Army for Organised Crime - IPS ipsnews.net:Civil Guard sergeant, who lived for a time in Honduras, has warned that a latin gang, more violent than the Latin Kings, called Las Maras, could be established in Spain within three years.

Sergeant Pedro Gallego warned that the Latin Kings and the Ñetas, who used to have a higher presence in Spain were only ‘sleeping’ now, but would see a resurgence in activity as the economic crisis bites and youth unemployment rises. Members are attracted to join the gang because of its lifestyle, status and quick access to sex and drugs.

Gallego has published a book with the conclusions of his study La Mara al Desnudo.
The book explains that the tattoos of the Mara gang members are important and represent secret codes between them.

Dragons, tombs and sex scenes tattooed across the entire body are common place for the gang considered to be much more dangerous than the Sicilian Mafia or the Camorra from Naples.

"The 'maras', as youth gangs are known in the three countries that make up what is known as the Northern Triangle of Central America, have stepped up their violent activities in recent weeks, as governments try to find ways to deal with the situation.

Death threats from the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Mara 18 (M-18) gangs, which are arch enemies, against bus companies brought public transport partially to a halt Sept. 7-9 in San Salvador, a city of 1.5 million people.

One person was killed, more than 80 were arrested, and three buses were destroyed during the strike which was ordered and enforced by the gangs to protest a new law making membership in a mara a crime."