At least 1,400 gang members arrested in one year in Madrid

The National Police and the Civil Guard have arrested 1,399 members or sympathizers of violent youth gangs in the Community of Madrid in the last year, and 37% of them were minors.

This was stated this Friday by the Government delegate in Madrid, Mercedes González, in the Assembly Study Commission to address the phenomenon of violent youth gangs in the region.

Among other data, González has exposed that in the last twelve months there have been 110,000 identifications, of which 56% are Spanish.

In addition, 646 weapons have been seized, only one of them firearms, and 400 penknives and knives, 65 machetes, 5 detonating pistols and 93 bullets and brass knuckles have been seized.

4,360 drug certificates have also been issued.

Another of the outstanding aspects is that in the last year they have perceived a gradual integration of women in these gangs.

It is still sparse, but it provides coverage for male members.

“There are very young pregnant women who hide drugs and weapons in their baby carriages,” explained the delegate.

“More flexible and dynamic” structures

Gang members have gone from being organized in hierarchical and pyramidal groups, to other “more flexible and dynamic” structures, and in a more integrated way in the neighborhoods.

Currently, according to data from the delegate, there are between 350 and 400 members of violent urban gangs active in the territory of the National Police, and between 200 and 250 in the Civil Guard.

“We are talking about a very small number of young people”, González has qualified.

There are only four bands that operate in Madrid: Latin King, Ñetas, Dominican Don't Play and Trinitarios.

There are also the Forty Twoo and the Blood, but "with little incidence and twinned with the Trinitarians, who have the same objective, tune and rival gangs.", the delegate pointed out.

And they are internally divided into forums or chapters, with between 15 and 20 members each.

All these groups share their territories, but in some of them two bands coexist and this is where the most conflicts take place.

“Fortuitous encounters end in aggressions.

They move by means of public transport”, pointed out González.

The most common crimes are fights and injuries ―with members of rival gangs― and robbery with violence and intimidation, which can be against any victim.

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