Economic drive of Northern Triangle mara gangs

The biggest illegal business of the maras gangs of Central América’s Northern Trianlge is extortion. It’s their main source of income (not, surprisingly, the sale of drugs). One of the biggest challenges the maras are facing is the tendency for its members to leave upon finding economic support elsewhere.

According to official figures from the National Anti-Extortion Force, there is an estimated $390 million of extortion done annually in El Salvador, $200 million in Honduras and $61 million in Guatemala.

Source: PanAm Post