Trinitario

Trinitario

Founded	1989
In	New York City Department of Corrections
Territory	New York City, Upstate New York, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Hudson County, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Boston, Hartford, Bridgeport, Providence, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, Spain
Ethnicity	Hispanic (primarily Dominican)
Membership	30,000 Worldwide
Criminal activities	Drug Trafficking, Weapons trafficking, Assault, Witness intimidation, Murder, Robberies
Rivals	Dominicans Don't Play, United Blood Nation, Latin Kings, Netas, Crips

The Trinitarios/3ni are a violent New York-based multinational organization composed of Hispanics.^[1] Trinitario was established in 1989 within the New York state prison system^[2] and since spilled into the streets, with chapters in all five boroughs of New York City. Reports of Trinitario activity have also been made in New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Alaska,^[1] Spain, and the Dominican Republic. This even includes Long Island in places like Freeport, Brentwood, and Port Jefferson Station. It is considered the fastest-growing gang in New York, recruiting members from high schools local to the gang's area of activity, with the highest numbers of reports coming from Chelsea, Gramercy Park, Harlem, the Morris Heights section of The Bronx and Washington Heights.^[3] Their slogan is "Dios, Patria, y Libertad", which means "God, Fatherland, and Liberty".

Trinitario is a Hispanic organization formed in prison, providing protection and unity for Hispanic inmates within the New York City Department of Corrections. The name "Trinitario", means the Trinity Brotherhood in Spanish. The public wrongly associates their name with the La Trinitaria secret society that served as the keystone in the quest for independence in the Dominican Republic. Members view themselves as being, like the founding fathers, freedom fighters and protectors for Hispanic people, though in this case within the New York City Department of Corrections. It was originally composed of members of smaller, now-defunct Hispanic gangs such as Los Papi Chulos, Dominican Power, and Dominican Posse, as well as unaffiliated drug dealers. Many members remained affiliated with the gang after serving their sentences, and began recruiting in their neighborhoods, the path many prison gangs take as they become street gangs.

They are known (as featured on an episode of Gangland) for the use of the machete as their weapon of choice.

Locations and Membership

About 30,000 members worldwide. One of the biggest street gangs in NYC with over 10,000 members, and 10,000 more in other states like Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Alaska, Pennsylvania, France, Spain, Switzerland and the Dominican Republic.

Extension

Trinitarios is one of New York City's most violent and fastest rising street gangs. With their reach spreading into neighboring New Jersey and beyond, these machete-welding Latino gangsters are now battling older, more established gangs, like the Latin Kings and Bloods, for control of the streets and the lucrative east coast drug market. What started as a prison gang has now become a dominant presence in the boroughs and the suburbs; as they prey on communities in the Tri-State area, Trinitarios are quickly rising on the radar of law enforcement agencies.

According to New York Law Enforcement, the Trinitarios are the fastest growing gang in New York. According to the DEA and law enforcement they may be considered the toughest gang in the world.^[4] According to the FBI National Gang Assessment for 2010, the Trinitarios have become a threat on their appearance on the East Coast.^[2] In addition, they have become an emerging gang in the New England area.^[2]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Drug Trafficking Organizations - New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Drug Market Analysis 2008 (UNCLASSIFIED)". Usdoj.gov. http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs27/27506/dtos.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-31. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} http://www.fbi.gov/publications/ngta2009.pdf
3. ^ Messing, Philip (2008-01-14). "Schools' Gang Scourge". NYPOST.com. http://www.nypost.com/seven/01142008/news/regionalnews/schools_gang_scourge_128917.htm. Retrieved 2009-12-31. 
4. ^ "At least 40 NYC gang members arrested in drug bust". wcbstv.com. 2009-03-10. http://wcbstv.com/local/drug.bust.trinitarios.2.954889.html. Retrieved 2009-12-31. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• http://www.swisschalet.eu/trinitario_en.html
• http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2010/03/09/news/doc4b968fad7b481991649846.txt
• http://www.nypost.com/seven/01142008/news/regionalnews/schools_gang_scourge_128917.htm
• http://www.myfoxny.com/dpp/news/local_news/nyc/090310_Gang_Busts
• http://www.wpix.com/landing/?blockID=235797&feedID=1404
• http://www.nypost.com/seven/02092008/news/nypdblotter/nypdblotter.htm
• http://gothamist.com/2008/07/13/teen_gang_responsible_for_williamsb.php
• Department of Justice http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs27/27506/dtos.htm