Police departments and city officials all too often don't want a community to know how serious a gang problem is because it will reflect poorly on them. Plus, it will keep new businesses and residents from moving in, which adds to city tax revenue.

MS-13 criminal activities include drug smuggling and sales, black market gun sales, human trafficking, assassinations for hire, theft, and assaults on law enforcement officials. Their activities have caught the eye of the FBI, who in September 2005 initiated wide-scale raids against suspected gang members, netting 660 arrests across the country. In the United States, the gang's strongholds have historically been in Washington D.C., Miami, and Southern California.

Brenda Paz (1985-2003) was a member of Mara Salvatrucha, an Central American gang. She was born in Honduras and raised in Los Angeles where she joined the gang at the age of 12. She was arrested in Virginia in June 2002 where she witnessed against the gang.

She was stabbed to death in June 2003 by members of the gang. She was 17 years old and four months pregnant.

World's most dangerous gang- stunning National Geographic video    (Click text)