FBI says gang activity in El Paso, West Texas focuses on drug activity

Gang activity in El Paso and West Texas is focused mostly on drug trafficking, FBI El Paso officials said.

"El Paso is very unique in our gang activity," FBI Supervisory Special Agent Paul Davis said. "It's very different than Chicago, different than New York due to us being along the border. It presents an opportunity for every gang member to basically have direct connections to drug suppliers along the border."

Davis would not discuss specifics of gangs in El Paso nor name the largest gangs in the area. However, he said the area has more than 100 gangs with thousands of members.

The main type of gangs in the El Paso area are street gangs, prison gangs and outlaw motorcycle gangs, Davis said.

The border has created gangs that do not necessarily have a leader due to the easy access for most gang members to acquire and distribute drugs, he said.

"In El Paso, we don't see a very hierarchical type of a stratified leadership within the gangs here," Davis said. "We've been seeing more of a flat lining of the gangs. Now, they're still grouped up, but we don't have necessarily a top-down (leadership) on the street gangs here in El Paso. It's very much who has a supplier of drugs and who can supply those drugs."

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Prison gangs recruit within the prison system, especially inmates who will be deported to Mexico after they are released. This creates a new member in Mexico who can get drugs to be smuggled into U.S., Davis said.

"We have both prison gangs and street gangs here in El Paso," Davis said. "The prison gangs will have those connections and go with drug suppliers in Mexico, and import and distribute drugs throughout El Paso, (West Texas) counties and as well as the interior of the United States."

The drug trade also leads to different gangs working together to smuggle and distribute drugs, Davis said.

"From time to time, we also see gangs cooperating and buying drugs from each other," Davis said. "This is very different than something that would happen in Chicago or New York or St. Louis. (Gangs) are not very territorial here. And again, that's why we believe that's a direct reflection of everyone's ability to get narcotics and sell their products here."

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However, territorial disputes between gangs is an issue law enforcement deals with in the El Paso and West Texas area.

"The gang situation is never black and white," Davis said. "There's always gray areas. ... There has been some motorcycle gang activity in the recent years where new motorcycle gangs move in and try and take over or try and work within a territory. So, there have been some conflicts there and even serious violence in that aspect."

Disputes between gangs can revolve around drugs, drug prices or even over where each gang can hang out, Davis said.

"In El Paso, there have been opportunities where there's been some flare-ups where there might be a dispute over drug prices, drugs themselves, or just run-ins at local hangouts,” Davis said. “We call them anchor points. Gang members sometimes will set up anchor points, so sometimes when you have an anchor point or areas where gangs hang out, some gangs try and say, 'Hey, this is my spot,' or 'This is my club' or what have you. And so we do have those flare-ups."

Davis urged community members to report any suspected gang activity to the Texas Anti-Gang Center at stopwesttexasgangs.org.

"We do act on those tips and leads," Davis said. "It's incumbent on us as community members that if you see something, say something and report it because it is our job in law enforcement to act on it."

Aaron Martinez may be reached at 915-546-6249; aamartinez@elpasotimes.com; @AMartinezEPT on Twitter.