List of gangs in Belize

Last updated

The following is a list of collective or corporate entities involved in organised crime in Belize, including street gangs, drug cartels, mafias, criminal enterprises, and criminal syndicates. This list includes both known or suspected and active or defunct entities. Tongs, outlaw motorcycle clubs, as well as terrorist, militant, and paramilitary groups are included only if involved in organised crime. Entities not based in Belize are included only if they are known to have or suspected of having members, chapters, or operations in Belize. [n 1]

Contents

Gangs

Bloods and Crips gangs were introduced to Belize by US deportees in the 1980s, and especially adopted by locals upon the 1988 release of Colors . [1] A boom in violent and organised crime followed, not yet mitigated by the 2020s. [n 2] As of 2019, there were at least three dozen gangs in Belize City, each loosely affiliated to Bloods or Crips, totalling some 900 to 1,400 members. [n 3]

NameAffBaseSizeAgeNoStateCf
Gill Street
Gill Street Bloods		BloodsSouthMinor24.025Active [2]
Kraal Street
Kraal Road Crips		CripsSouthMinor26.525Active [3]
Taylor's Alley
Taylor's Alley Crips, Taylor's Alley Bloods, West Molan Bloods		?NorthMajor23.535Active [4]
Supal Road
Supal Road Gang, Supal Street Gang, Supal Street Crips, Supal Street Bloods		?SouthMinor26.035Active [5]
Euphrates
Euphrates Bloods		BloodsSouthMinor——? [6]
Wagner's Lane?SouthMinor——? [7]
Rocky Road
Rocky Road Gang, Rocky Road Crips, Rocky Road Bloods		?SouthMinor26.018Active [8]
Pinks Alley?NorthMinor——? [9]
Neighbourhood
Neighbourhood Bloods		BloodsSouthMinor——? [10]
Kick Down Fence?SouthMinor——? [11]
George Street
GSG, George Street Gang, George Street Bloods, Plum Street, Devon Bailey Area, George Street Gaza Gang		BloodsSouthMajor31.545Active [n 4]
Victoria Street
Victoria Street Bloods		BloodsNorthMinor26.027Active [12]
Pickstock Street
Pickstock Hutment Crips		CripsNorthMinor——Active [13]
Kelly Street
Kelly Street Crips		CripsNorthMinor26.025Active [14]
Back-a-Town
Back-a-Town Bloods, Back-a-Town Crips		?SouthMinor29.525Active [15]
Ghost Town
Ghost Town Crips, Banak Street, Mayflower Street, Banak Crips, Banak Zone Gang		CripsSouthMinor28.065Active [16]
Raiders?SouthMinor——? [17]
Amara Street
Amara Street Bloods, Amara Bloods		BloodsSouthMinor24.523Active [18]
Jerusalem
Jerusalem Gang, Jerusalem Bloods, Jerusalem Crips		?SouthMinor28.513Active [19]
Trapp
Trapp Bloods		BloodsNorthMinor——? [20]
PIV
Peace in the Village Bloods, Peace in the Valley Bloods, St Thomas PIV		BloodsSouthMajor26.0150Active [n 5]
Jane Usher
Jane Usher Bloods		BloodsSouthMinor26.040Active [21]
Southside
Southside Gang, South Side Gang, Southside Gangsters, Southside Crips		CripsSouthMajor26.095Active [n 6]
Sunset
Sunset Crips		CripsSouthMinor24.513Active [22]
Majestic Alley
Majestic Alley Crips		CripsNorthMajor28.538Active [23]
Pregnant Alley
Pregnant Alley Gang		??Major——? [n 7]
Brick City
Brick City Gang		??Minor——? [24]
Back-a-Land
BLC, Back-a-Land Crips		CripsSouthMajor29.525Active [25]
Conch Shell
Conch Shell Bloods, Conch Shell Bay Bloods, Lauriano Bloods		BloodsSouthMinor24.528Active [26]
Jump Street
Jump Street Gang, Jump Street Crips		CripsSouthMinor27.025Active [27]
123rd
123rd Gang		?SouthMinor——Active [28]
Afghanistan
Afghanistan Gang, Afghanistan Bloods		BloodsSouthMinor24.513Active [29]
Gaza New Generation
Gaza New Generation Bloods		BloodsSouthMajor15.080Active [n 8]
Jungle
Jungle Bloods		Bloods?Minor26.030Active [30]
Louise Bevans
Louise Bevans Crips, Louise Bevins Crips, Freedom Street		CripsSouthMinor24.535Active [31]
Antelope Street
Antelope Street Bloods, Antelope Extension Bloods, Antelope Crew, Crenshaw Bloods		BloodsSouthMinor27.028Active [32]
Lacroix Boulevard
Lacroix Boulevard Bloods		Bloods?Minor25.528Active [33]
Police Street
Police Street Crips		Crips?Minor26.030Active [34]
Plum Tree
Plum Tree Bloods		Bloods?Minor24.523Active [35]
Kings Park
Kings Park Crips		Crips?Minor29.018Active [36]
103 New Road
103 New Road Bloods		BloodsNorthMinor21.018Active [37]
Riverside Boys??Minor16.018Active [38]
102
102 Crips, Parham Crips		Crips?Minor26.513Active [39]
Belama
Belama Bloods, Riverside Bloods		Bloods?Minor25.013Active [40]
Simon Lamb Street
Simon Lamb Street Crips		Crips?Minor27.513Active [41]
Neals Penn Road
Neals Penn Road Bloods, Gaza Bloods		Bloods?Minor25.013Active [42]
Horse and Carriage
Horse and Carriage Bloods		Bloods?Minor23.513Active [43]
Brian Brown Faction
Brian Brown Crew		?SouthMinor——Active [44]
Nurse Finley Faction
Nurse Finley Faction Gang		??Minor——Active [45]
Genaside
Genaside Gang		??Minor——Active [46]
T Street Faction
T Street Faction Gang		??Minor——Active [47]

George Street

George Street
Foundedca late 1980s
FounderHeathcliff Reyes
Founding locationGeorge Street, Belize City, Belize
Territoryca 138 acres about George Street (2018)
Membership (est.)40–50 (2018); up to 150 (2019)
Leaders
List
  • Heathcliff Reyes
  • Lyndon Tunan Arnold
  • Sheldon Pinky Tillett
  • Gerald Shiny Tillett Sr
Rivals
List

George Street are a Bloods-affiliated street gang in Southside Belize City, allegedly formed in the late 1980s by US deportee Heathcliff Reyes to oppose the concurrently formed Majestic Alley (Crips). [n 9] They (with Majestic Alley) are thought to be the country's earliest gangs. [48] They initially claimed all the Southside as their base of operations. [49] Their alleged 1992 murder of Derek Itza Brown (Majestic Alley leader) is thought to have kicked off gang warfare in Belize. [50]

The 2000s saw Heathcliff shot dead by police, [48] the rise to prominence of the Tillett family in the gang, [48] and a bitter rivalry with the neighbouring Taylor's Alley (Bloods) which bled into the 2010s. [48] The late 2000s is thought to have been a boon to the gang, allegedly culminating in successful hits against leaders of rival gangs (Southside, Brick City, Ghost Town) in 2010. [51] In 2011, they joined a government-mediated gang truce, which is thought to have come undone partially due to the 2012 killing of their then-leader, Sheldon Pinky Tillett, allegedly by Taylor's Alley. [52]

In late 2018, their (with PIV's, Back a Land's, Southside's) gang territory was estimated as amongst the largest (of 36) in the country. [53] Their numbers were estimated at 40 to 50, [54] with a mean age of 32 (the only gang whose members' average age was in the 30s, rather than 20s or teens). [55] In 2019, they were deemed "the most powerful [of 24 gangs]" given their membership ("up to 150 gang members") and organisation ("well developed internal informal hierarchies"). [56]

In 2021, they (with PIV, Southside, Gaza New Generation) were considered amongst the largest gangs (of "over 40") in the country. [57]

Majestic Alley

Majestic Alley
Foundedca late 1980s
FounderFredrick Diggy Dap Lynch
Founding locationMajestic Alley, Belize City, Belize
Territoryca 11 acres about Majestic Alley (2018)
Membership (est.)25–50 (2018)
Leaders
List
  • Fredrick Diggy Dap Lynch
  • Derek Itza Brown
Rivals George Street

Majestic Alley are a Crips-affiliated street gang in Northside Belize City, allegedly formed in the late 1980s by US deportee Fredrick Diggy Dap Lynch to oppose the concurrently formed George Street (Bloods). [n 9] They (with George Street) are thought to be the country's earliest gangs. [48] They initially claimed all the Northside as their base of operations. [49] Their alleged 1992 murder of Lyndon Tunan Arnold (George Street leader) is thought to have kicked off gang warfare in Belize. [50]

Lynch is thought to have fled the country upon witnessing the 2007 murder of a close associate (Crips leader George Junie Balls McKenzie). [48]

In late 2018, their gang territory was estimated as being on the smaller side (a few blocks). [58] Their numbers were estimated at 25 to 50, [54] with a mean age of 29. [54]

Other entities

Guatemalan and Mexican groups use Belize to receive, store, and move illicit drugs and precursor chemicals. [59] Furthermore, Belizean gangs seemingly provide logistical help in return for illicit drugs and arms. [60]

NameBaseSizeStateCf
Mendoza clan
Mendoza family		 Guatemala Major? [n 10]
Zetas
Los Zetas		 Mexico Major? [61]
Sinaloa
Sinaloa Cartel		 Mexico Major? [62]
MS-13
Mara Salvatrucha		 El Salvador MajorActive [63]

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ↑ Jan; WB, pp. 210, 212.
  2. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  3. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  4. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22, 24.
  5. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22; Ral.
  6. ↑ WB, p. 216.
  7. ↑ WB, p. 216.
  8. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22; Ral.
  9. ↑ WB, p. 216.
  10. ↑ WB, p. 216.
  11. ↑ WB, p. 216.
  12. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22; Ral.
  13. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, p. 22.
  14. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  15. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22; Ral.
  16. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22; Ral.
  17. ↑ WB, p. 216.
  18. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  19. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  20. ↑ WB, p. 216.
  21. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  22. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  23. ↑ WB, p. 214; Yg m, pp. 21–22, 24; Ral.
  24. ↑ WB, p. 219.
  25. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22, 24; Ral.
  26. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  27. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22; Ral.
  28. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 22.
  29. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  30. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  31. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  32. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  33. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  34. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  35. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  36. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  37. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  38. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  39. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  40. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  41. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  42. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  43. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22.
  44. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 22, 24.
  45. ↑ Ral.
  46. ↑ Ral.
  47. ↑ Ral.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jan.
  49. 1 2 WB, pp. 212–213.
  50. 1 2 WB, p. 214.
  51. ↑ WB, p. 219.
  52. ↑ WB, pp. 219–220.
  53. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9–10, 19–20, 22.
  54. 1 2 3 Yg m, p. 21.
  55. ↑ Yg m, pp. 20–21.
  56. ↑ WB, p. 215.
  57. ↑ Kry, p. 19.
  58. ↑ Yg m, p. 22.
  59. ↑ Bun, p. 183.
  60. ↑ Bun, p. 183; Kry, p. 9.
  61. ↑ Bun, p. 194.
  62. ↑ Bun, p. 194.
  63. ↑ Kry, p. 19; Ral.
  1. ↑ Notes and short citations provided in Cf columns. For gangs, Aff, Base, Age, and No columns give gang affiliation (Bloods or Crips), location in Belize City (Northside versus Southside), estimated mean age of members, and estimated median tally of members, respectively. This article uses ACLED data (Ral, filtered for Belize on 16 July 2025) for information on recent (2018 and later) gang-related incidents.
  2. ↑ For instance, WB found the murder rate has been steadily increasing since the 1990s (pp. 4-6, 197, 209), noting the state, scholars, and press often blame gangs for the vast majority of crime (pp. 1, 8, 198, 209-210).
  3. ↑ WB, p. 210; Yg m, pp. xv, 19–20. Though data 'is limited' (Yg m, p. 19).
  4. ↑ WB, pp. 214–216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22, 24; Ral. Deemed 'the most powerful' with up to 150 members and 'well developed internal informal hierarchies' (WB, p. 215). Main rivals deemed Southside Gang and Pregnant Alley Gang (WB, p. 215). NYC killing of leader Lyndon 'Tunan' Arnold (in retaliation for 1992 killing of alleged Majestic Alley Crips leader Derek 'Itza' Brown) deemed 'most visible initial event' of incipient gang warfare, after which 'violence between gangs became more and more entrenched and the level of violence increased' (WB, p. 214). 2012 killing of leader Shelton 'Pinky' Tillett broke a 2011 government-mediated truce of 13 gangs, including GSG (WB, pp. 219–220).
  5. ↑ WB, p. 216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22; Ral. Deemed one of 'largest gangs by estimated number of members' (Yg m, p. 20).
  6. ↑ WB, p. 215-216; Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22; Ral. Deemed 'second in terms of organisational capacities' to main rivals GSG (WB, p. 215). Deemed one of 'largest gangs by estimated number of members' (Yg m, p. 20).
  7. ↑ WB, p. 215. Deemed 'second in terms of organisational capacities' to main rivals GSG (WB, p. 215).
  8. ↑ Yg m, pp. 9, 21–22. Deemed one of 'largest gangs by estimated number of members' (Yg m, p. 20).
  9. 1 2 Jan. Per first-hand account by Leslie Pipe Pipersburgh (former Crips member) in 2021 (Jan).
  10. ↑ Bun, pp. 183, 194. Well-connected crime family; Zetas arrival [likely 2007] 'forced them to change their calculus' (Bun, pp. 180–181). Allegedly use(d) Belize 'as a respite and strategic headquarters' (Bun, p. 183).

References

  1. Raleigh C, Kishi R, Linke A (2023). "Political instability patterns are obscured by conflict dataset scope conditions, sources, and coding choices". Humanities and Social Sciences Communications. 10 (Art no 74) 74. doi: 10.1057/s41599-023-01559-4 .
  2. Baird A (2019). "'Man a Kill a Man for Nutin': Gang Transnationalism, Masculinities, and Violence in Belize City". Men and Masculinities. 24 (3): 411–431. doi:10.1177/1097184X19872787.
  3. Young HA, Patrick A (2023). "Gangs in the City: Profiles of Reality". Journal of Belizean Research. 1 (2). Art no 9.
  4. Janowitz N (15 July 2021). "How the US exported a Bloods and Crips gang war to Belize". Vice. New York.
  5. Warnecke-Berger H (2019). Politics and Violence in Central America and the Caribbean. Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan Cham. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-89782-0. ISBN   978-3-319-89781-3. LCCN   2018942510.
  6. Baird A (2024). From South Central to Southside: Gang Transnationalism, Masculinity, and Disorganized Violence in Belize City. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press. ISBN   9781439923351. LCCN   2023059602.
  7. Bunker RJ, ed. (2013). Criminal Insurgencies in Mexico and the Americas: The Gangs and Cartels Wage War. London: Routledge. ISBN   978-0-415-53375-1. LCCN   2016438196.
  8. Young M (2019). King DM (ed.). Belize City Community Gang Assessment (Report). Washington, DC: IDB. doi:10.18235/0001860.
  9. Krylova Y, Rico D (2023). Regional Hubs for Illicit Trade in Central America: Panama, Belize, and Guatemala (Report). Arlington, Virginia: TraCCC.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.