Sep 23, 2021 · Some of these photos of cartel tattoos will show you just how intense tattooing can get. This list illustrates some of the tattoos that adorn Mexican cartel and gang members, along with the meanings the lie behind them.

Feb 4, 2010 · Gulf Coast High Impact Drug Trafficking Area Law Enforcement Sensitive Guide to Identifying Mexican Gang Tattoos.

Sep 13, 2023 · Members of certain criminal gangs and mafia groups in and out of prison carry tattoos imbued with highly specific meanings. These tattoos and their meanings vary from group to group, as every gang has its own ‘tattoo language’, so to speak.

Tattoos are useful indicators to identify individuals who are members of a gang or a criminal organization. It is important to note that an image may have several different, occasionally innocuous, meanings, depending on the interpretation of the individual or gangs using it. The Organized Crime Section (OCS) is providing the following tattoos

Mar 2, 2010 · Untrained in American gang graffiti particulars, their "placasos" (plaques or badges in gang graffiti) are crude and less aesthetic than the U.S. gang placasos. Besides "Sur 13," these groups might mix in "Pandilla Sureño" (Sureño Gang), and "Sureños Mejicanos."

Most people who are fans of body ink are not going to stroll into a tattoo parlor and request to get inked with the Mexican mafia tattoos because of the deep-rooted gang associations. These tattoos are either done underground or done covertly while in prison.

Mar 13, 2025 · Gang-related tattoos hold specific meanings for their bearers, and their designs and colors vary. Teardrop tattoos are symbols associated with gangs or prison, while cartel tattoos showcase the intensity of tattooing.

Mar 9, 2025 · Tattoos commonly found on TdA members consist of weapons, stars, clocks, trains, five-pointed crowns, and the dollar sign. These tattoos can serve as intimidation and territorial symbols, and are often used as a warning sign of potential violence.

Jun 27, 2024 · What does the 13 cartel tattoo mean? The number 13 is commonly associated with the Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13), a notorious gang known for its criminal activities. The 13 cartel tattoo symbolizes allegiance to the gang and is often …

May 17, 2024 · Many Mexican Mafia gang members will have the national symbol of Mexico tattooed on their body, such as a snake eating an eagle. The number “13” is used in Mexican Mafia tattoos because M (or La) Kanpol, which means “south great”, references Aztec numbering and …