#1 Māori Gangs Of New Zealand
The largest gangs on the South Pacific island are the Mongrel Mob, Black Power and the Nomads. Significant Māori membership tattoos are traditionally "tribal" but also contain words and symbols unique to their gang affiliation. Gangs are similar in structure to the U.S. Hell’s Angels: a president, vice-president, etc. Also women are excluded, and these guys do appear like a motorcycle motley crew!
#2
The Notorious Dot Symbols
One of the most common U.S. prison tattoos include the 3 dots on the
upper cheek. The triangle of dots stand for Mi vida loca or “My crazy
life”, and associates with the MS-13 gang, but also is representative of
the Los Vatos Locos, "The Crazy Dudes or Guys" gang originating from
1940s Los Angeles. Sometimes individual dots reveal how many people one
has killed or has lost in life. In Europe, the three dot symbol means,
"death to police", and can be found on the hand between the thumb and
index finger. For British gangsters, a dot is located between the
knuckle and first joint of 4 fingers.
#3
Cobwebs Signifiers
Black cobweb tattoos have to do with prison life and the gang members
who are "trapped" there. Cobwebs inked on the elbow or the neck
represent someone who's spent a lot of hard time behind bars. It's kind
of like the person hasn't moved in so long, that a spider has built a
web on them.. creepy, but a big web could gain a gang member respect
once they're out of prison.
#4
Women In Barrio 18: Gang M-18
Women in the M-18 street gangs of Central America: Guatemala, Honduras
and El Salvador serve a dual role. They take on "male" traits in
perpetrating and withstanding violence, while performing in the
stereotypical "female" roles of cooking, caring for the men, children
and the sick. In some ways, one might say they're tougher than the men,
and getting a tat on the face that shows a gang affiliation, proves
just that!
#5
South African Gang Members
Bless and Kojak: The twins are in longterm prison sentences and their
facial tattoos are an abandonment of hope to live life outside of
incarceration. A spider web on the neck shows that "he" will wait
patiently for prey, and the four stars on the shoulder indicates a high
ranking gang member. Both men have fangs tattooed under their lips "to
signify that they will bite", and if you look closer, there are devil
horns on their foreheads!
#6
Five-Point Crown: Latin Kings Gang
Crown tats are a favorite by many ordinary folk, but the "five royal
point" crown is for the Latin Kings gang, originally started in Chicago.
Today they're one of the largest hispanic gangs in and outside of
U.S. prisons. The "five points" represent their affiliate to the People
Nation gang, while other details of the crown, such as the colors of
the jewels in the points carry other levels of hidden meanings.
#7
La Mara Salvatrucha: AKA MS-13
If you see someone with a tat that reads: MS13, MS or just 13, you're
likely facing a member of the La Mara Salvatrucha gang. Some of the
members originated in Los Angeles as El Salvadoran immigrants who had
associations to guerrilla fighters in the El Salvadoran civil war. Now
their chapter is 60,000+ strong and spans the U.S., Canada, Mexico and
Central America. The U.S. Treasury has even listed them as a
Transnational Criminal Organization, which translates into being a
mafia!
