Small gangs that have become real criminal empires are already in prisons

Prisons are built to isolate criminals from society. Having lost freedom and trapped behind four walls, a person is deprived of the chance to lead the same way of life. But he gets as much time as he wants to rethink his actions. This is exactly the path of correction, according to representatives of the penitentiary system. Sometimes it really works. However, there is a downside. Ideologically and socially close people, concentrated in one place, will definitely unite. From such alliances in the harshest prisons emerged the world’s largest criminal organizations.

Aryan Brotherhood — USA

According to an FBI investigation, the gang accounts for only 0.1 percent of the total prison population, but it is responsible for almost a quarter of the murders in the US federal prison system. The disparity is caused by the fact that the “Aryan Brotherhood” accepts elimination orders from anyone, regardless of skin color and religion. It’s just part of a business model, and it’s very profitable, along with the smuggling of mobile phones, illegal substances, and even cold steel. The “Aryan Brotherhood” originated in 1964 in San Quentin Prison.

At that time, segregation was still strong in the States, and a small group united for their own protection. AB members refused to settle in mixed blocks. By the 1980s, the gang had grown, and a more complex hierarchy with its own secret ciphers and communication systems had appeared. The leaders of the “Aryan Brotherhood” were often placed in isolation and scattered in various prisons, minimizing communication with the environment and the outside world, but this had an unexpected effect. All correctional institutions began to have their own small cells.

Thus, prisons have become offices or branches of the “Aryan Brotherhood”, where everything is based on iron discipline. The leader’s order can go on for days and weeks, but as soon as the message arrives, everyone obeys it without question.
If you need to start a riot somewhere, make no mistake: there will be a real pogrom. If the letter talks about the need to take revenge on some policeman or overseer, an ordinary gang member will do it, even if he gets a life sentence.

Neta — Puerto Rico

The Association for the Protection of Prisoners’ Rights is officially called Neta. In general, it all started more than half a century ago with opposition to prison arbitrariness. The first “cell” is believed to have originated in the “Oso Blanco” (“Polar Bear”). It is one of the largest prisons in Puerto Rico, located in the capital. Visit. A F R I N I K . C O M . For the full article. The founders of Neta even condemned certain types of crimes like drug sales and only sought to improve conditions of detention. The position proved popular, and Neta’s numbers grew rapidly. Of course, all the prohibitions and condemnations soon became a thing of the past.

Today it is the largest and one of the most violent gangs in Puerto Rico. An unusual rule applies on the territory of the island. After being released, Neta members must leave the gang. Outside, they do not receive the same protection and cannot act on behalf of the organization. However, many former criminals move to the United States, where the group recruits members of national communities and engages in the most common things from racketeering to contract killings. Despite its relatively small size, Neta cells operate in many Latin American countries and even in Europe.

Number Gang — South Africa

Imagine that you ended up in a South African prison. Most of them were built at the very beginning of the 20th century; the conditions are terrible, but they can be brightened up a bit. You just have to make a choice: bananas or curry? The first one symbolizes the passive role of an observer: you are required not to interfere anywhere and follow established rules. The second is much sharper. A person who prefers curry declares his courage and willingness to be a fighter to defend the honor of the Number Gang and receive protection. From now on, your hands and eyes belong to the gang literally. The contract is certified in blood and is not subject to revision.

Literally, Number Gang means “Gang of numbers.” This name originated from an extensive structure, where individual groups have an ordinal number. For example, the 26th store accumulates resources and monitors the distribution of benefits. The 27th resolves conflicts, enforces discipline, and follows gang rules. The 28th is the power unit and the workforce. All this is a bit simplified: inside each “room” there are many separate roles with their own functions. South Africa’s law enforcement agencies sometimes refer to the Number Gang as a prison state whose citizenship is easy to obtain and almost impossible to lose.

Brödraskapet — Sweden

Perhaps this is the youngest prison empire, which emerged only in 1995. The place of origin is Kumla, a high-security prison for the detention of the most dangerous criminals. The word Brödraskapet translates as “Brotherhood,” and it usually means having a strict hierarchy with strict discipline. After coming out of prison, the members of Brödraskapet used the gained experience and connections, building a similar corporate structure. For example, biker clubs are involved in the transportation of weapons and prohibited substances. Moreover, the network covers not only Sweden, but also the whole of Scandinavia.

Pretty soon, the gang had its own power wing, the Brödraskapet Wolfpack (“Brotherhood of Wolves”). Today it is a recognizable brand in Sweden, which can be described as a radical motorcycle gang. For several years, they have been trying to establish a partnership with the most famous motorcycle club in the world, Hells Angels. The result was a real street war, during which dozens of members of various clubs were injured or killed. Among them, Daniel Fitzpatrick, the founder of Brödraskapet, died.

Barrio Azteca — USA/Mexico

Technically, the gang originated in U.S. prisons and consisted of Mexicans who were deported to their homeland after serving their sentences. Back in Mexico, former prisoners were reuniting. If you believe the reports of the FBI and the NSA, then right now there are from 3 to 4 thousand gang members in the United States, which is not so many. But just a few hundred meters away, on the other side of the wall, in Juarez, there are about 5,000 more members of Barrio Azteca. All these people lead a highly active lifestyle and, in fact, serve as the power wing of the local cartel.

The word barrio refers to poor American-Mexican neighborhoods; Azteca, obviously, refers to ancient roots and almost primitive cruelty. It is likely that this gang is behind the murder of hundreds, if not thousands, of illegal immigrants who are trying to cross the border into the Juarez area. It’s not about protecting the border; it’s just that trying to get through costs money, and you have to pay very specific people. Otherwise, there is a good chance of staying forever somewhere in the border zone between the USA and Mexico.