List of gangs in the Grand Theft Auto series

File:GTASA PC gangs GroveStreetFamilies.jpg

Members of the Grove Street Families in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

The Grand Theft Auto series of video games features a myriad of fictional gangs and criminal organizations of various ethnicities, histories and activities, which have served as both primary and secondary vehicles in the games' plot points, as well as allies or foes of the game's characters.

The following is a list of prominent criminal gangs in the series. This article primarily deals with gangs appearing within Grand Theft Auto titles set in the Grand Theft Auto 1 canon, Grand Theft Auto III and Grand Theft Auto IV canon, including:

• Grand Theft Auto: London 1969 & London 1961 (L,69&L,61), set in 1969 and 1961.
• Grand Theft Auto III (GTA III), set in 2001.
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (GTA:VC), set in 1986.
• Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA:SA), set in 1992.
• Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories (GTA:LCS), set in 1998.
• Grand Theft Auto Advance (GTAA), set in 2000
• Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (GTA:VCS), set in 1984.
• Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV), set in 2008.
• Grand Theft Auto: The Lost and Damned (TLAD), set in 2008.
• Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony (TBoGT), set in 2008.
• Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (GTA:CW), set in 2009.

For gangs in Grand Theft Auto 2, see list of gangs in the Grand Theft Auto 2 article.

Note that a gang's fitness for inclusion in this article is determined by its importance to the storyline of any Grand Theft Auto game, including the advancement of the plot or prominent characters featured. Specific criteria for determining a gang's impact on the series have been achieved by a consensus of interested parties. For the details of this consensus, see the discussion page.

Overview

Street gangs and criminal organizations are an integral part of the Grand Theft Auto series serving as both ally and antagonist throughout the storyline, sometimes simultaneously. In Grand Theft Auto 2, the way you interacted with each gang in the game was monitored by the "respect" system it had: if the player attacks members of a certain gang or completed missions detrimental to a gang, the gang would dislike the player and attack him or her on sight, but if the player does missions for a gang, then the player gains respect from that gang which allowed for more missions to be completed for that particular gang.

While gang interaction had its relevant pros and cons in Grand Theft Auto 2, in Grand Theft Auto III, gang missions had a stronger and more storyline-oriented affect on gameplay than in previous installments . For example, if a player accomplishes a gang mission that encompasses the assassination of a rival gang leader, it should come as no surprise that the gang of the assassinated leader will not wish to do business with the player and may even attack him in the game.

Les Benzies, a DMA Design employee who oversaw the development of Grand Theft Auto III, cited such movies as Bullitt, Casino, and The Warriors as inspiration for the creation of the gangs in the series.

GTA IV-Era

Italian American gangs

The Commission

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars

The Commission is the name given to the GTA IV version of the real-life Commission, the mob's ruling body. They can usually be found in Little Italy as well as parts of Alderney. Vehicles of choice appear to be PMP-600s and Sentinels. The Commission is made up of the following five families:

Ancelotti Family

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned and GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Part of the Cosa Nostra "Commission". Formed in the late 1950s by Giovanni Ancelotti, an Italian immigrant from Naples, who managed to reach the top of the Liberty City underworld. Many of Ancelotti's men work at the Alderney City Fruit Markets, while the rest of the family's businesses are set in Algonquin. According to Jon Gravelli, he was going to kill Giovanni's uncle many years ago but decided to spare him. The Ancelotti family are the weakest of the Five Families, needing to hire Albanian thugs for extra muscle. Because of this, the Ancelottis are often the target of the Pegorinos and their hired muscle, the McReary Irish Mob. They also start to work with the Russian Mafia, earning the wrath of the Gambetti family, who consider it an insult to work with foreign crime syndicates.

• The Ancelotti crime family is based on Colombo crime family, which has been weakened by the third Colombo crime family war in the 1990s. The family is the smallest and is trying to rebuild its self. It is the youngest crime family in New York City and started around 1928.

Gambetti Family

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned and GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Arguably the most powerful of the Five Families of Liberty City in Grand Theft Auto IV. The Gambetti family is based in Broker and were led by the aging Jon Gravelli, who had taken over the position as Don of the Family in 1978 after the death of then Don, Sonny Cangelosi. Gravelli had been confined to Schottler Medical Center in Broker since 2005 with a serious kidney based illness. A case was brought against Gravelli and the Gambetti Family in 2006 for Racketeering, although Jon Gravelli has not been able to stand trial due to his illness. Roy Zito is currently the underboss and right hand man of Jon Gravelli. Zito is fiercely loyal to his Don, having offered the sick Gravelli his own kidney in tribute. When Gravelli refused the offer, Zito cut the Kidney out himself and delivered it to his Don in a bucket of ice. Zito is acting as underboss of the family while official underboss, Sammy Bottino, is in hiding for a murder he committed in Vice City. After the death of Jon Gravelli, it's assumed that Bottino will become the Don of the Gambetti Family.

The Gambetti Family are traditionally enemies of the Pavano Family. Gambetti Family members appear smartly dressed in suits and ties.

• The Gambetti crime family is based on real life Gambino crime family in New York City based in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Lupisella Family

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned and GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony

The Lupisella Family are one of the founding families of the Liberty City Mafia Commission. They are based in Bohan, and suspected to be as powerful as the Gambetti Family from Broker, the Lupisella's control many of Liberty City's major Rackets. 79 year old Vincent Lupisella is in charge of the family, with his nephew, Mark "Loopy" Lupisella being the family's street boss, or puppet boss. Vincent Lupisella is thought to have killed his twin brother over a leadership struggle within the family. Mark Lupisella was due to have a reality tv show produced about his life on the CNT network but plans were cancelled when he attacked the executive producer. The family's main hitman is 65 year old Sonny Honarato, a feared enforcer from Bohan. Honarato has faked his own death and works underground, and is believed to be the hitman behind several bodies found floating in the West River. Another tale of Honarato's reliability is in 2003, when he suffered a massive heart attack. Ten days later he killed a cardiologist with Gambling debts to the Lupisella's. Moe Schwartz is the 69 year old Jewish accountant of the Lupisella Family. He has not officially been inducted into the family because of his Jewish ancestry. Schwartz' skills as an accountant to the family are key to its success, with his help the Lupisella's are the only Mafia Family unable to have been charged with tax irregularities. Schwartz also spent 340 days in 2002 only communicating through spreadsheets as he was concerned about surveillance devices.

• Based on real life Lucchese crime family in New York City which is based in Bronx (Bohan) and one of the five families of NYC.

Messina Family

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars

One of the oldest Italian-American crime families in Liberty City. The Messina criminal syndicate is based in Dukes. The family is believed to be led by Harvey Noto, 66, who was able to establish himself at the top of the organization after a long and bloody power struggle. The Messina Family are facing a police crackdown in the new year. Harry Hall is the Irish-American consigliere of the Messina Family, despite he was never indicted in the family due to his Irish descent. The family's two Caporegime's are brothers Mark Anthony Volpe and Frederico 'Fredo' Volpe. The Messina's suspect that Mark Anthony Volpe is a FIB informant, however it is his brother Fredo who is in fact the informant, and has enough wiretap evidence to bring down the whole Messina Crime Family when arrests are made.

• Messina crime family is based on the Bonanno crime family which in the 1990s turned around and became a powerful force on the commission again after John Gotti helped them regain their lost seat.

Pavano Family

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned and GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony

One of the five families of Liberty City. Led by 60 year old Maria "Mary" Valvona, a Sicilian born matriarch. They play a minor role in GTA 4. Jimmy Pegorino wants to get his family on the commission and he offers the Pavano's a cash tribute. The Pavano's see this as an opportunity to whack out Jimmy Pegorino, but their attempt is foiled by Niko, who was brought along for protection. They mainly keep to themselves in Algonquin, but Jimmy allows them to run a loan shark operation and several bookies in Alderney.

• The Pavano family could be based on the Italian organization based in Camorra where there was a female boss Rosetta Cutolo. The Italian-American crime families in New York City have never had any female members they have only stayed as associates or "Comare" (name for mafia mistress). However this fictional IV familly could be based on a Camorra Clan even though Camorra's are no longer active in New york. Or Rockstar games interpretation of the film Analyze That were Cathy Moriarty-Gentile played Patti LoPresti a female Mafia Boss.

Pegorino Family

Appearances: GTA IV, The Lost and Damned and GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Led by James "Jimmy the Peg" Pegorino, the Pegorino family (Also known as, the Alderney Mob) is not one of the Five Families, nor is it part of the Commission. It is considered a smaller mafia outfit, which Jimmy wants to change. Other key members of the family include associate Phil Bell and capo Ray Boccino. Despite Pegorino's efforts to get his organization on the Liberty City Commission, the other Families continue to view the Pegorino family as a joke.

The Pegorino family begins to unravel when Jimmy and other members are indicted, mainly because Anthony Corrado, Pegorino's personal bodyguard, snitched to the law (he is killed before he can testify in court). Ray Boccino is also killed on suspicion of being a snitch. With the law closing in all around, Pegorino becomes desperate to be rid of any evidence that would implicate him and his organization, most notably a large amount of heroin that the Pegorino family stole from a Triad gang. He enters into a partnership with the leader of one of Liberty City's 2 Russian Organizations, Dimitri Rascalov, who agrees to find a buyer for the heroin in exchange for half the profit. Niko, who has worked for the Pegorino family in the past, is asked by Pegorino to oversee one half of the deal.

If the player chooses not to go through with the deal and kill Dimitri, the Pegorino family is ruined and Phil Bell leaves the dying organization. A furious Pegorino attempts to get revenge on Niko by shooting him at Roman Bellic's wedding, but kills Kate McReary by accident. After the shooting, everyone in town wants Pegorino dead, according to Little Jacob. After a long shootout and chase, Niko kills Pegorino on Happiness Island. It is suggested that the Pegorino family ceases to exist after his death.

If the player chooses to go through with the deal, then Niko and Phil Bell meet with the buyers at one location to pick up the money, while Dimitri sells the heroin at a different location. However, Dimitri ends up killing the buyers and keeping the heroin for himself. Niko and Phil manage to fight their way to the money and retrieve it. With the Russians taking the heroin off his hands and the Pegorinos managing to get the money regardless, the Pegorino family gains a lot of power. According to Little Jacob, Pegorino considers himself the "Don of Dons" afterwards. However, Dimitri betrays Pegorino and kills him, wishing to keep the money for himself. It is unknown if the Pegorino family ceases to exist after this, due to Phil Bell still being with the organization and the money possibly still in their hands.

• The Pegorino crime family is based on real life DeCavalcante crime family based mainly in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The DeCavalcante family received a commission seat in the late 1970s.

African American gangs

African Americans

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars

The M.O.B. are a gang that hangs around the Firefly Projects in Liberty City and Acter in Alderney State. An early mission has Niko picking up a friend of Roman's named Jermaine Andrews, who is said to be member of the Firefly Projects African-American gang.

North Holland Hustlers

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars

A larger Black-American gang operating in the North Holland, Northwood, and Acter neighborhoods of Algonquin and Alderney, with ties to the Torres Cartel in Bohan and Northwood Dominican Drug Dealers Gang, and the East Holland Drug Crew. The gang was originally led by Dwayne Forge until his incarceration. It was then taken over by Trey "Playboy X" Stewart, a flashy gangster with a less professional attitude to the "business" and more focused on the actual money earned, not how he goes about earning it. He was Forge's protégé before he went to jail. Upon his release from prison, Dwayne is displeased with how the gang is being run and vies for power in an ensuing turf war. Niko Bellic then has to kill either Playboy X or Dwayne Forge after receiving calls from the two of them. If the player kills Playboy X, the gang will be led by Dwayne Forge. They are rivals to Money Over Bitches (M.O.B.) and Spanish Lords.

Other notable members include Marlon Bridges and Jayvon Simson, both of whom Niko kills for Playboy and Dwayne. If Niko chooses to kill Playboy X, he acquires Playboy X's penthouse and befriends Dwayne. When Niko earns enough of his respect, Dwayne will send two members of the North Holland Hustlers to assist Niko, when he calls Dwayne for the request.

Irish gangs

Irish American Killers

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars A larger Dukes based Irish-American gang, it is currently led by brothers Derrick McReary and Gerald "Gerry" McReary. Gerry often gives his orders through his younger brother, Patrick "Packie" McReary. Another brother, Francis McReary, is Deputy Commissioner of the Liberty City Police Department, but Francis is unable to take down his family due to corruption evidence that Gerry has against him. While not a participant in the family's criminal enterprises; Kate McReary, the only daughter in the male dominated clan, becomes a close friend to Niko Bellic. Derrick has recently returned from a period of hiding in Ireland doing work for the IRA and does not seem to have much power in the family at this time due to a crippling drug and alcohol addiction. Other known members of the gang include Gordon Sargent and Michael Keane. The Irish American Killers used to be quite prominent in Liberty City, but their power has greatly diminished due to the rise of the Russian Mafia in Broker and the Italian Mafia expansion into Algonquin. At their height of their power, the center of the Irish American Killers' territory was the Algonquin neighborhood of Purgatory, which is a nod to the days when the Westies ran the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It is implied by Packie that Maureen McReary is the real leader of the gang. It is shown on the LCPD records that she was connected to a murder.

The Irish American Killers have ties with the Torres Cartel in Bohan through Packie's good friend Elizabeta, and the Pegorino Family through Ray Boccino.

Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs

The Angels of Death MC

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars

The Angels of Death Motorcycle Club are a white supremacist outlaw biker gang operating around Algonquin, where they frequently hang out at their clubhouse located in Varsity Heights, Liberty City. They are supplied with Heroin by the Jaoming Triad and deal Cocaine with the Spanish Lords. Unlike The Lost MC, who have an exclusive Liberty City charter, the Angels of Death have numerous charters including ones in the UK, Scandinavia, Canada and Australia as well as one in every state of America. The Angels of Death also have a themepark in Florida and sell branded merchandise such as bed linen, books, party sets, diapers and even dildos. For this, The Lost MC accuse them of selling out to what is true.

According to their official in-game website, www.angelsofdeathonline.com, the AOD started in San Andreas in 1949 as a small club for people unsatisfied with a non-segregated society. Lester Arnold is the leader of the Angels of Death and is based in San Fierro, along with Road Captain Joseph "Joe Jon" Johnson.

They are based on the real life Hells Angels.

The Lost MC

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars

The Lost Motorcycle Club, also known as The Lost Brotherhood or simply The Lost, are a multi-racial outlaw biker gang operating out of their clubhouse in Acter, Alderney. According to the official in game website of The Lost, the club was founded by 8 US Marines serving in Vietnam in 1964 who all shared a passion for hookers, Heroin, motorcycles and 86'n Charlie. The club's President is Billy Grey, but due to him being in rehab for Cocaine possession (of which he successfully claimed was for personal use) and Heroin use, leadership was temporarily put in the hands of the Vice-President, Johnny Klebitz. Johnny holds the leadership for two months while Billy is in rehabilitation, and Johnny sees to it that there is a truce put into place with the Angels of Death MC, the sworn enemies of The Lost, realizing there is more money to be made in the lucrative Drug trafficking business than mindless violence against the AOD. Billy is eventually released from rehab, the conflicts between The Lost and Angels of Death once again are reignited over the AOD having possession of Billy's personal Revenant motorcycle, and eventually the death of recently patched enforcer for The Lost, Jason Michaels (which was actually the work of GTA IV protagonist Niko Bellic)

The Lost appear in one mission in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars as enemies, the next year after the Alderney Chapter.

Other key members of The Lost include Brian Jeremy, Jim Fitzgerald, Clay Simons, Terry Thorpe, and Angus Martin. In GTA: The Lost and Damned, it is revealed that after the arrest of Billy, The Lost was split in two with Johnny's supporters and Billy's supporters, led by Brian. Eventually, Johnny kills Brian but there are many casualties for the Lost. Due to the diamond problem with Ray, Jim is killed. Stubbs reaveals to Johnny that Billy is planning to rat out the Lost's drug deals in order to be put in the Witness Protection Program. Johnny, along with other Lost members, attack the facility that Billy is being kept in. Johnny then personally executes him. The last remaining members of the Lost, Johnny, Angus, Terry, and Clay, burn the Lost clubhouse.

The first GTA IV DLC expansion pack, The Lost and Damned, centers on the Lost and their Vice-President, Johnny Klebitz.

Uptown Riders MC

Appearances: GTA: The Lost and Damned

The Uptown Riders are a predominantly African-American motorcycle gang based in North Holland that only ride imported sports bikes. They have an alliance with The Lost, despite the two gangs arguing over the types of motorcycles that they drive. The Uptown Riders also work for Elizabeta Torres. Malc (Malcolm) and DeSean are members of this gang, whom Johnny Klebitz works with in several missions after being introduced via Jim. It is not known whether the Uptown Riders are a motorcycle club or a street gang, a question that even Malc himself is unable to answer. The Uptown Riders are made in reference to the Ruff Ryders.

Eastern European gangs

Russian Mafiya

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars The Russian Mob (Or Mafiya and Bratva) only appear in San Andreas for a short time, wearing a black t-shirt or grey sweater, jacket and pants. Though they have no permanent stake in San Andreas, they claim the Atrium as a temporary turf in a mission, and also appear in league with the Ballas, Vagos and Rifas in Big Smoke's "Crack Palace."

However they play a much larger role in GTA IV with such characters as Vlad Glebov, Mikhail Faustin, Dimitri Rascalov, Rodislav "Ray" Bulgarin, and Kenny Petrovic. While they are seen to have operations all over Liberty, they would appear to be based in Hove Beach, Firefly Island, and Beachgate. It is in the neighborhoods that you can find gang members walking the streets, as well as cruising in jet black luxury cars such as Sentinels, Schafters, and Reblas.

Faustin Crew/Rascalov Crew

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned and GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony

This crew is a large Russian crime syndicate who seem to run both Dukes and Broker, eventually becoming the main group of antagonists in the game. The Crew is headed by Pakhan Mikhail Faustin, an erratic and paranoid cocaine addict who lives in a rich mansion with his estranged wife and rebellious teenage daughter. It would seem Faustin is a member of the Bratski Krug, or Circle of Brothers, a Russian version of the Italian-American Commission. Broker is run by one of the Crew's Brigadiers, Vladimir Glebov, a Russian loan-shark operating out of "Comrades" until he is executed by Niko Bellic. Mikhail's orders for numerous hits on people for trivial matters draws unwanted attention from the law and upsets his partner, Dimitri Rascalov, who is angry that Mikhail has stopped following the unspoken rules of organized crime. Another Russian Mafiya Crew, the Petrovic Crew, almost wage a full-scale war on the Faustin Crew when Lenny Petrovic is murdered on orders from Mikhail. This is averted when Dimitri secretly strikes a deal with Pakhan Kenny Petrovic to use Niko to kill Mikhail. Dimitri then assumes control of the Faustin Crew with his new partner, Rodislav Bulgarin, Niko's old boss in the human trafficking ring to whom Niko owes money. The Faustin Crew (Now Rascalov Crew) under Dimitri and Rodislav's new leadership betrays Niko and attempt to kill him. They then set fire to Niko and Roman's apartment and taxi depot, running the cousins out of Broker and Dukes. Sometime after Niko kills Dwayne Forge or Playboy X, the Rascalov Crew kidnap Roman Bellic in order to lure Niko into a trap, the Rascalovs were unsuccessful, and the Bellics move into Algonquin, where they are actually safe, as Roman doesn't get taken by any Russians there. It is revealed in a text from Roman, he got kidnapped by a biker for the Russian Mob. On Gerald McReary's Final Mission, Dimitri sends Bulgarin to ambush Niko on Charge Island. Bulgarin arrives at Bellic's Deal with the Ancelotti Crime Family, claiming the diamonds they was about to get were his and orders his Crew, the Eastern European Drug Crew, to kill Niko, along with Patrick McReary.

In The Lost and Damned they appear as a minor gang, confronting the game's protagonist Johnny and forcing him to kidnap Roman Bellic to pay off the debt Johnny's former girlfriend Ashley owes them.

Petrovic Crew

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned and GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony

Another Russian Mafiya Family working in Broker, Dukes, and Bohan. The family is led by Pakhan Kenny Petrovic, presumably another member of Bratski Krug. It is mentioned on the LCPD database that Kenny Petrovic is the most powerful Russian Kingpin in Liberty City and possibly the most powerful one in America. The Petrovic and Faustin Families have a peace due to the Bratski Krug, until Mikhail Faustin orders the execution of Petrovic's son, Lenny. Kenny Petrovic then orders the deaths of Faustin's administration, including Dimitri, Niko and Mikhail himself. Dimitri strikes a deal with Petrovic that places blame solely on Mikhail, which would have Niko assassinate Mikhail and have Dimitri replace him as Pakhan.

Albanians

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned and GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony

The Albanian Mob is the first gang that Niko runs in to after his arrival in America. This small time mob, based in Broker and Bohan, operates mainly in loan-sharking, blackmailing and extortion. Dardan Petrela, Bledar Morina and Dardan's brother Kalem are members. Roman Bellic owed money to them for a time, leading to the three aforementioned members to threaten him at his cab depot and chase him from a backroom card game. After they attempt to beat Roman at a basketball court, Bledar and Kalem are beaten unconscious and Dardan is killed by Niko Bellic. Later on, while doing mission for the Irish Mob, Gerry McReary tells Niko that the Ancelotti family hires Albanian soldiers as hitmen, extortionists, and thugs. Gerry hires Niko to hit an Ancelotti captain, Tony Black, to create a rift between the Albanians and the Ancelottis. After Tony Black has been killed, Gerry puts a contract on another Ancelotti caporegime Frankie Garone. Niko, while disguised as an Albanian, chases Frankie and guns him down on a motorcycle. Later on, during the Undertaker mission, a crew of Albanian hitmen is seen attacking the McRearys after a family funeral. The Albanian gang can be found on the streets of Little Bay. In the multiplayer "Bomb Da Base II", the Albanian mob appears as the main antagonist, shipping stolen cars back to Europe without Petrovic's permission.

In The Lost and Damned the Lost Brotherhood occasionally engages in gang wars with the Albanians.

Hispanic gangs

Spanish Lords

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars

The Spanish Lords are a Puerto Rican gang based on the Latin Kings. They are one of the largest criminal organizations found in GTA IV being found in Cerveza Heights, South Bohan, East Holland and Alderney City. Former members include Manny Escuela and Lyle Rivas. Like the Latin Kings they wear black and gold, though they almost always wear clothing featuring the Puerto Rican flag and t-shirts with "Boricua" on them, in addition to their gang colors. The vehicles they drive are nearly always metallic red with gold trim and rims.They are Rivals to North Holland Hustlers and Northwood Dominican Drug Dealers Gang.

Note: The Spanish Lords is also a real street gang in Chicago. Spanish Lords could be rivals of another Hispanic Street gang called the left wood Hispanic street gang.

Dominican drug dealers

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned and GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony

The Northwood Dominican drug dealers are led by Willy Valerio and Teddy Benavidez. Valerio's lieutenants are the Gomez brothers, Alonso and Oscar. The small crew isn't strong compared to its local competition, namely the North Holland Hustlers and Spanish Lords, but they are known to have recently begun working with Liberty City's Mafia families. The Gomez brothers have ties to Luis Lopez, the Dominican bodyguard of club owner and Ancelotti associate "Gay" Tony Prince. Benavidez is known to do business with the Pegorino Family through Ray Boccino. They share Northwood with The North Holland Hustlers.

West Indian gangs

Yardies

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars

A Jamaican gang operating out of Dukes, dealing drugs and weapons. Niko Bellic's friend, "Little" Jacob Hughes, is a member of this gang, along with his boss, Real Badman. Niko can do drug deals for this gang, kill rival drug dealers and gang members, as well as purchase weapons from Little Jacob's trunk when his friendship with him is high enough. Hangouts are Schottler, Beechwood city, and Willis, particularly around the Homebrew Cafe which they would appear to own. They drive two-toned, green and black vehicles, often Huntley Sports or Voodoos.

The have a minor role in "The Lost and Damned" occasionally engaging in gang wars with The Lost.

Asian gangs

Liberty City Triads

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars

Triads in Liberty City appear in the Chinatown neighbourhood of Algonquin and the Cerveza Heights neighbourhood of Dukes. They can be armed with a knife, pistol or shotgun, and will attack the player if they are provoked.

Jaoming Family

Appearances: GTA: Chinatown Wars

The Jaoming Family are the leading Triad family in Liberty City. Hsin Jaoming is the de facto leader of the Liberty City Triads, though he was retiring as of 2009. His son, Chan Jaoming, was a possible candidate for being the next leader, but his father and the other Triads saw him as incompetent. Chan was killed by Huang Lee, the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, as he was thought to have been a fed rat alongside Zhou Ming. It eventually turned out to have been Huang's uncle Wu Lee, who stabbed Hsin Jaoming with the family sword Yu Jian right before Wu's own death.

Lee Family

Appearances: GTA: Chinatown Wars

The Lee Family is a Triad family located in Cerveza Heights. The family was led by Huang Lee's father until his death in 2009, after which his brother Wu Lee took over. Huang Lee was then tasked to bring the family sword Yu Jian to his uncle Wu. However, when he arrived in Liberty City, he was ambushed and the sword was stolen. Huang had to recover the sword so Wu could give it to Hsin Jaoming to get in his favor. Eventually, Huang found out that Wu had Huang ambushed himself and he had killed Huang's father, after which Huang killed Wu. It is likely Huang took over control of the family after this.

Ming Family

Appearances: GTA: Chinatown Wars

The Ming Family is the last known Triad Family in Liberty City. The family was led by Zhou Ming, who was favored by the Tongs as the next Triad leader and Zhou saw himself as the best candidate as well. However, Huang got his hands on evidence that proved that Zhou was a fed rat and he was then ordered to kill Zhou. Ironically, after this had been done, the Triads found out that it was Huang's uncle who was the fed rat.

Midtown Gangsters

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA: The Lost and Damned, GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony and GTA: Chinatown Wars

The Midtown Gangsters are a group of Korean gangsters located in Alderney City in 2008 and in Bohan, Liberty City in 2009. They were loyal to the Liberty City Triads, though Hsin Jaoming, the Triad leader, expected the Midtown Gangsters to have been ratting the Triads out to the LCPD in 2009. Therefore, he had Huang search for evidence proving this, resulting in the deaths of many underbosses and other members.

The Midtown Gangsters are possible enemies in the Gang Wars side-mission in GTA: The Lost and Damned and the Drug Wars side-mission in GTA: The Ballad of Gay Tony.

GTA III-era

Italian American gangs

Leone Family

The Leone family is an Italian American Mafia criminal organization, originating from Sicily based in Liberty City.

• Appearances: GTA III, GTA:SA, GTA:LCS, GTA A(Advance)

Forelli Family

The Forelli family is an Italian-American Mafia family based in Liberty City.

• Appearances: GTA III, GTA:VC, GTA:SA, GTA:LCS, GTA:VCS

Sindacco Family

The Sindacco family is an Italian-American Mafia family based in Las Venturas and, formerly, Liberty City, where they originated.

• Appearances: GTA:SA, GTA:LCS

Sicilian Mafia

In 1998, under the leadership of Salvatore Leone's elderly uncle, the Sicilian Mafia spark several wars between rival families in Liberty City in the hope of controlling the city once the existing families destroy each other.

• Appearances: GTA:LCS

African American gangs

Southside Hoods

The Southside Hoods are a prominent African-American gang in Shoreside Vale, Liberty City, who come to acquire their turf in Wichita Gardens while helping Toni Cipriani clear the Forelli family out of Wichita Gardens as payback for their part in having Salvatore Leone arrested.

• Appearances: GTA III, GTA:LCS, GTA A(Advance)

Grove Street Families

The Grove Street Families (also known as "Grove Street Alliance", "Grove Street", "Grove", "Families" or "GSF" for short) are a street gang in Los Santos, San Andreas, the native gang of Carl "CJ" Johnson. The Grove Street Family are based on the real life gang, the Bloods

• Appearances: GTA:SA

Seville Boulevard Families

The Seville Boulevard Families, or SBF, are a sub-gang of the Grove Street Families based on Playa Del Seville's project.

• Appearances: GTA:SA

Temple Drive Families

The Temple Drive Families are another Grove Street Families sub-gang, based on Temple Drive around the graveyard.

• Appearances: GTA:SA

Ballas

The Ballas are the GSF's primary enemy, having been around since the 1970s. They are involved in drug dealing, gang banging, prostitution, arms dealing, vandalism, and degeneracy, but mainly, the cocaine trade. The Ballas are rivals with GSF and the Aztecas, and have ties with the Los Santos Vagos, the San Fierro Rifa, the Loco Syndicate for narcotics, and the Russian Mafia for weapons. Although they are primarily an African American gang there have been rumors of a group of Samoan Ballas based around the Crips.

• Appearances: GTA:SA

Rollin' Heights Ballas

The Rollin' Heights Ballas are a gang that comes from GSF's rivals the Ballas. They claim Rollin' Heights as their turf and are a small part of the gang's drug trade. They also are in Big Smoke's crack palace when it blows up which ends up killing most of them before CJ wipes the rest out after the death (or before) of Officer Frank Tenpenny.

• Appearances: GTA:SA

Kilo Tray Ballas

Another sub group of the green menBold text gang,this gang takes a major part in the Balla drug trade. They sell majority of the drugs to the Grove Street Families. They are believed to be the biggest sub group of the Ballas gang and are also well known by the LSPD for their drug activity. They are killed by CJ and the Varios Los Aztecas shortly after the game's completion.

• Appearances: GTA:SA

Caucasian American gangs

Trailer Park Mafia

The "Trailer Park Mafia" is the name given to the former redneck gang in GTA:VCS based in a trailer park surrounding the Sunshine Autos Car Showroom, circa 1984.

• Appearances: GTA:VCS

Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs

Vice City Biker Gang

"The biggest family of misfits, outcasts and badasses," as quoted by their leader, Big Mitch Baker. A group of stereotypical bikers, they wear leather, give off a gruff, tough persona, have long beards and hair, wear biker attire and ride chopper style motorcycles. Circa 1986, they are the only gang, along with the Cuban Gang, with which Tommy Vercetti opens relations without forcibly taking it over.

• Appearances: GTA:VC, GTA:VCS

Liberty City Biker Gang

The Biker Gang in Liberty City, led by Cedric "Wayne" Fotheringay, is a biker gang primarily involved in drugs and street racing. The gang is mainly featured in the Liberty City Stories installment, mostly in missions centering around Maria.

• Appearances: GTA:LCS

Hispanic gangs

Colombian Cartel

The Colombian Cartel (aka the "Cartel" in Grand Theft Auto Advance) is a shady South American syndicate and the main group of antagonists in GTA III. They are exceptionally well armed, and are led by Catalina and Miguel to produce and supply the drug SPANK in Liberty City.

• Appearances: GTA III, GTA Advance, GTA:LCS

Diablos

The Diablos are an Hispanic street gang. The leader of the Diablos is El Burro (who has been under observation by police since 1997, as mentioned in GTA III's official website).

• Appearances: GTA III, GTA:LCS

Diaz's gang

Diaz's gang, headed by drug baron Ricardo Diaz, is a Vice City-based Colombian cartel that enjoys immense power during the mid-1980s. Diaz's men wear pink or purple Hawaiian shirts, long pants, and sunglasses.

• Appearances: GTA:VC, GTA:VCS

Los Cabrones

The "Cuban Gang" (as named in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City), also known as Los Cabrones (as named in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories), is a Cuban-American gang led by Umberto Robina.

• Appearances: GTA:VC, GTA:VCS

Mendez Cartel

The Mendez Cartel is a very powerful and ruthless drug cartel operating out of Vice City since the late '70s. They arrive in Vice City around the same time as Victor Vance and supply drugs to numerous high ranking officers at Fort Baxter.

• Appearances: GTA:VCS

Cortez Crew

The Cortez Crew are a group of men dressed up as sailors who are led by Colonel Juan Garcia Cortez. Cortez is working for Ricardo Diaz and Cortez ends up discovering Diaz was behind Vercetti's botched drug deal.

• Appearances: GTA VC

Gonzalez's Crew

Gonzalez's Crew are led by Gonzalez and are involved in Drug Running.

• Appearances: GTA VCS

Costa Rican Gang

The Costa Rican Gang is a group of drug smugglers that are attempting to move in on the Diaz Cartel's patch.

• Appearances: GTA VC

Cholos

In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the Cholos are the dominant Mexican gang in the Little Havana and Little Haiti districts of Vice City. They are involved in conflicts on various fronts - Phil Cassidy is fighting them for gun running dominance, while Marty Jay Williams and his Trailer Park Mafia are fighting them for dominance of nearly every other criminal activity.

• Appearances: GTA:VCS

Los Santos Vagos

based on the 18th street gang

Los Santos Vagos, like the Ballas, pose a threat to Carl "CJ" Johnson, and provide an opportunity to engage in gang wars. The Vagos and the Grove Street Families have experienced an intense rivalry, but the Vagos' main arch-enemies are their Latino counterparts, the Varrios Los Aztecas. After Carl and Cesar Vialpando (the leader of the Aztecas) were exiled from Los Santos, the Vagos took over all of the Aztecas' territory, until the return of the Grove Street Families allowed Carl and Cesar to regain the territory. The Los Santos Vagos were once known to be rivals of the San Fierro Rifa, but have come into good terms with them due to cooperative drug trafficking between them.

• Appearances: GTA:SA

Varrios Los Aztecas

based on the Sureños

Significantly less prominent than the Vagos, the Varrios Los Aztecas are a Latino gang led by Cesar Vialpando. They have formed an alliance with the Grove Street Families due to Cesar dating and intending to marry Kendl Johnson, sister of Cesar's close friend, Carl Johnson, and due to the gangs possessing common enemies. Nevertheless, Varrios will still challenge Carl Johnson if they see him on the streets, calling out insults against the Grove Street Families gang and attacking with fists or weapons. They will attack other GSF members on sight, and vice versa. The Varrios are rivals with the Vagos and the San Fierro Rifa, and are also believed to be on bad terms with the Ballas.

• Appearances: GTA:SA

San Fierro Rifa

San Fierro Rifa is the sole Hispanic gang based in San Fierro, later seen to be collaborating with the Ballas and Vagos in the narcotics business. The Rifa also appear to work as thugs for the Loco Syndicate, possibly because Rifa leader T-Bone Mendez is a co-leader of the Loco Syndicate. The Rifa also had a dislike towards Latino gangs in Los Santos, until they joined the narcotics business linked to the Los Santos Vagos. They appear to be rather neutral with the local Chinese Triads and the Vietnamese Da Nang Boys.

• Appearances: GTA:SA

West Indian gangs

Uptown Yardies

The Yardies are a Jamaican gang, led by King Courtney. They are secretly in league with the Colombian Cartel and are known to push SPANK onto Staunton Island.

• Appearances: GTA III, GTA A(Advance), GTA:LCS

Haitian Gang

The Cuban Gang's main rivals for control of the poorer neighborhoods of Little Haiti and Little Havana is the Haitian Gang, led by Auntie Poulet.

• Appearances: GTA:VC

Other gangs

Vercetti Gang

The Vercetti Gang is a very powerful underworld outfit based in Vice City. It is led by Tommy Vercetti, a renegade Forelli family member who has assumed control of numerous businesses and property ventures in Vice City, circa 1986. The organization is known to be involved in various illegal enterprises, including extortion, drug dealing, counterfeiting, protection racketeering and prostitution.

• Appearances: GTA:VC

Vance Crime Family

At the beginning of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and throughout Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, the Vance Crime Family is made up of two leaders Victor and Lance Vance, of which Victor is the main leader.

• Appearances: GTA:VC, GTA:VCS

East Asian and South East Asian gangs

Liberty City Triads

Appearances: GTA III, GTA:LCS, GTA IV, GTA IV: The Lost and Damned, GTA:CW, GTA:The Ballad of Gay Tony

In GTA III, the Liberty City Triads are a gang made up of people of Chinese origin based in Portland Island. Though the Liberty City Triads appear to be a petty street gang, it is evident that they are beginning to dabble in organized crime; including extortion, most notably that of Mr. Wong's Laundrette, which is the source of several problems for the Leone family, as well as pushing drugs for the Colombian Cartel via "Chunky" Lee Chong, which gives the Leone family mafia even more reason to be in a war with them. They also own The Turtle's Head Fish Factory in Callahan Point, Portland. They are the initial enemy of Claude, while he works for the Leone family. An all-out war between the Triads and the Leones erupts as the Triads attempt to muscle in on Leone businesses in Chinatown, which the Triads hold majority control over. The war concludes after three of the Triad warlords are assassinated and their fish factory is destroyed by a Mafia truck bomb (interestingly enough, the warehouse belonged to the Leones during Liberty City Stories until the Triads blew it up). While it is improbable to say that the Triads are finished in Liberty City, they have definitely been irrevocably weakened because of the loss of their most powerful front.

In GTA III, Triad members wear blue boiler suits and black bandanas. In GTA:LCS, they wear blue tracksuits with their gang logo on the back, black or blue pants, and black sunglasses.

In GTA IV, Triads appear in the game around Chinatown in Algonquin. Niko seals the infamous shipment of "cursed" Heroin from them on behalf of the Pegorino Family. It is said that there are three different sets making of the Liberty Triad in the LCPD Database. One group of Triads are under Hsin Jaoming (who is the overall triad boss) and his son Chan Jaoming. Another is led by Wu "Kenny" Lee and his nephew Huang Lee (the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars). The third is controlled by Zhou Ming. The Jaoming Triad is said to supply the Angels of Death and Korean Mob with narcotics. The Triads also make an appearance in the GTA IV expansion pack The Lost and Damned, where it is revealed that they originally sold the shipment of Heroin to the Angels of Death, before stealing it back from The Lost.

The Liberty City Triads play a central role in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, in which they also have a base of operations in Cerveza Heights.

The Tongs

Appearances: GTA:CW

The Tongs are Chinese criminal society established in the Liberty City crime world. Different from the Triads, they are referenced numerous times by Triad members during "GTA: Chinatown Wars", such as underboss Wu "Kenny" Lee, who tries to gain favour with them in order to climb the Triad hierarchy. Implying that the Tongs are a powerful criminal group with significant influence over the triads, who as according to Kenny, if in Liberty City one is to become a Triad boss, it is prudent to gain favor with the Tongs first.

San Fierro Triads

Appearances: GTA:SA

The San Fierro Triads are large gangs originating from Hong Kong, who have since moved to San Fierro. There are three Triad factions in San Fierro consisting of a set hierarchy with small sets answering to larger sets; the Blood Feather Triad, which are later slaughtered by the Da Nang Boys. The Red Gecko Tong led by Ran Fa Li, and the Mountain Cloud Boys, the most prominent gang in the group, operated by the blind Wu Zi Mu and answers to the Red Gecko Tong.

The sets of the SF Triads are heavily involved in joint operations and avoid violent conflict between the Triad factions, with the Mountain Cloud Boys establishing an alliance with the Red Gecko Tong. The SF Triads are also allied with the Grove Street Families, and are rivals with the Italian Mafia, the Da Nang Boys, and the Loco Syndicate.

In addition to their bases of operations in San Fierro, the SF Triads also own and operate a casino hotel venture called The Four Dragons on the Las Venturas Strip; ownership shared between Wu Zi Mu, Ran Fa Li and Carl Johnson. Because of intense Mafia pressure in the city, the Chinese Triads attempt to flex their muscles to show the Mafia that they can hold their own on The Strip. While the SF Triad's prime business is gambling, Woozie has shown motivations towards robbery and street racing.

Carl Johnson, having been exiled from Los Santos after the fall of the Grove Street Families, works for Wu Zi Mu's faction and helps them to destroy the Loco Syndicate and neutralize the Da Nang Boys (the Triads, on the other hand, seem to be on neutral relations with San Fierro's other gang, the Rifa). In return the Triads aid Carl in robbing Caligula's Casino, give him a share in The Four Dragons Casino, and help him in seizing Madd Dogg's mansion back from a drug dealer so the Grove Street Families could spearhead their return. The mansion serves as CJ's own base of operations in his return to Los Santos.

SF Triad members don all-black suits or all-grey suits. Some carry AK-47s. While the Triad gang members appear on the streets in Chinatown, Calton Heights & Financial, San Fierro, they do not appear on Las Venturas streets, even areas surrounding The Four Dragons Casino, although they can be seen on several cut-scenes and missions.

Vice City Triads

Appearances: GTA:VC

The Vice City-based Triad is a gang that appears and are mentioned only briefly in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and it is arguable that they are not Vice City based at all, but a Liberty City or San Andreas based group in Vice City on business. They are only known to be involved in counterfeiting business, supplying printing plates of money to an unspecified Florida-based counterfeiting syndicate They are prominently involved in one mission where Tommy Vercetti is assigned to break into a container ship and extract information from the boss of the gang on the location of a printing plate shipment. The gang is also known to run a shipping company at Viceport, Vice City's harbor, where this gang is operating from a ship.

Yakuza

Appearances: GTA I, GTA II, GTA III, GTA (Advance), GTA:LCS

The Liberty City Yakuza is a Japanese criminal organization operating in Liberty City, assumed to have been around since the 1970s, headed by siblings Asuka Kasen and Kenji Kasen. Their prime activities are gambling and protection and they are the dominate crime syndicate on Staunton Island. The Yakuza are rivals with the Colombian Cartel, Yardies, and the Italian Mafia.

Initially, Claude is invited by the Yakuza to work for them, after having severing ties with the Leone family. However, while working for Donald Love, Claude frames the Colombian Cartel for the assassination of Kenji, resulting in a war between the Yakuza and the Cartel. Angered by the death of her brother, Asuka vows to "hunt down" the Colombian Cartel with the help of Claude, while capturing and torturing Cartel member Miguel for information. In the process, the Yakuza also take Fort Staunton, a Cartel turf. Later, Asuka is killed by Cartel members, although Fort Staunton remains in the control of the Yakuza. The successor to the Yakuza`s leadership would probably be Kanbu a high ranking Yakuza member who Claude rescues from jail. The Yakuza is the only significant gang that aids Claude throughout its appearance in Grand Theft Auto III.

In Liberty City Stories, the Yakuza is led by Kazuki Kasen, Asuka and Kenji's older brother. While not a major power in Liberty City yet, they are stocking up on weapons (including a tank) and are prepared to claim a large portion of the city as their turf. Their efforts are thwarted by Leone family Caporegime Toni Cipriani with the help of Kazuki's angry and neglected wife, Toshiko, however they are successful in taking the Torrington District, including the Sindacco family-owned Big Shot Casino (which they have changed to Kenji's Casino by GTA III).

Yakuza members wear colorful suits and jewelry. In GTA:LCS, Yakuza members sport tattoos.

Korean Mob/Midtown Gangsters

Appearances: GTA IV, GTA:CW

In GTA IV, the Korean Mob is based in Alderney City, where they frequent Mr. Fuk's Rice Box. Originally they were led by a North Korean, Kim Young-Guk, whom Niko Bellic and Derrick McReary assist in bringing counterfeit money into Liberty City by boat. But Kim is later killed by Niko as a favor to Jon Gravelli and the man known of only as United Liberty Paper. In addition to their ties to the Irish Mob through Derrick McReary; the Koreans are also known to work with the Liberty City Triads. They appear to share the Alderney City turf with the Spanish Lords in relative peace.

The Koreans also make an appearance in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, and are called the Midtown Gangsters, a possible reference to New York City's Koreatown in Midtown Manhattan. Since the game does not take place in Alderney, the Koreans are instead based in Bohan.

Da Nang Boys

Appearances: GTA:SA

The Da Nang Boys (named after the Vietnam region and city of Da Nang) are a Vietnamese criminal organization based in San Fierro, preparing a full move to the US. They are extremely violent, with major interests in protection, narcotics and human trafficking, they control the dockland/bay area in Easter Basin and possibly a freight ship anchored out in San Fierro bay, often causing disturbance. The Da Nang Boys are also at war with local Triad gangs and are responsible for the massacre of the Blood Feather Triad. With the help of CJ, the Triads respond with an aerial massacre on one of the Da Nang Boy's freight ships, resulting in the death of many members and their leader, Snakehead.

While the Da Nang Boys are portrayed as a major Vietnamese gang in the city, two other sects, the Shining Razors and the Butterfly Children, are mentioned in the game and in the official San Andreas website, and are said to be active in Easter Basin.

The Da Nang Boys are seen wearing either street attire (in the form of Army t-shirts and pants), or traditional robes.

Other gangs

Cartwright Crew

Appearances: GTA:London 1961, GTA: London 1969

Catwright crew is a gang led by one of London's crime lord Harold Cartwright. The gang is ran from 1961 to 1969 by Harold Cartwright, until he is killed. The gang most likely dissolved as most of the members were killed.

Parkinson Mob

Appearances: GTA:London 1961, GTA:London 1969

Jack Parkinson is an up and coming crime lord. He pays protection to Albert and Archie Crisp but plans on becoming the biggest crime lord in London and is willing to kill anyone who gets in his way, including the Crisp Brothers.

Crisp Firm

Appearances: GTA:London 1961, GTA:London 1969

Albert and Archie Crisp are London's fearest underworld figures. Despite controlling the city's rackets for years, the "Twins" always have to look over their businesses from rival gangsters such as Harold Cartwright.

Loco Syndicate

Appearances: GTA:SA

While better classified as a joint business venture, the Loco Syndicate is a collective illegal outfit dealing with drugs, primarily cocaine. The Syndicate has its main operations based in San Fierro, and is made up of San Fierro's most powerful pimp Jizzy B, the leader of the San Fierro Rifa T-Bone Mendez and the mysterious businessman (later revealed to be an undercover Government agent) Mike Toreno. Big Smoke, who started up a large crack-cocaine empire, later establishes a business deal with the Syndicate, sending his number two man, Ryder, as his formal representative to conduct business. The Loco Syndicate is the largest drug cartel in San Fierro and one of the most powerful in San Andreas, before Carl Johnson kills Ryder, Jizzy B and T-Bone Mendez consequently causing the Loco Syndicate to disband. Toreno then returns to his usual Government duties and Big Smoke's narcotics empire ceases transactions with San Fierro.

Streetwannabes/Sharks

Appearances: GTA:VC, GTA:VCS

The Streetwannabes is a gang of thugs that hang out around outside the North Point Mall and in several dilapidated mansions in Prawn Island as of GTA: VC, but are hardly a threat to any of the other gangs in Vice City. The only highlight of their gang's history was being part of an aerial massacre that resulted in many of them getting killed. It is also suggested that they are involved in arms running. They apparently are on bad terms with Mitch Baker's Biker Gang and in one mission they even steal his prized motorcycle and keep it captive in a motor garage in Downtown. The leader of the gang (name unknown) betrays Ricardo Diaz and steals his shipment of drugs. Diaz orders the killing of him (and many other members in the aforementioned aerial slaughter).

The Streetwannabes are known as the Sharks in Vice City Stories and are located in the East Island of Vice City; they manage a number of rackets, which Victor eventually takes over. After Victor takes over one of their businesses, the Sharks do not back down in their attacks until all of their businesses have been taken. Often, they chase Victor in their Gang Ranchers, or sometimes attempt to destroy his empire sites.

They are listed as the "Streetwannabe's," with use of the apostrophe, in the Vice City stats, but the Shark logos on the back of their denim jackets, along with graffiti on buildings and their gang cars, has led some to call them the Sharks. The Streetwannabes are mostly seen wearing denim jackets, jeans and red bandanas. In GTA:VCS the Sharks are seen wearing brightly coloured shirts, light brown or grey pants and berets.

Certain other "gangs" in Vice City are also listed as Streetwannabes. This includes army soldiers and "gangs" that show up in certain missions, such as the Forelli family in the final mission, the attackers in the "All Hands on Deck!" mission, and the courier and bodyguards of a counterfeiting syndicate in the "Hit the Courier" mission (it is unknown why the counterfeiting syndicate is made up of women).

Avenging Angels

Appearances: GTA:LCS

The Avenging Angels are a vigilante group who patrol various areas throughout Liberty City. In GTA:LCS, the player may opt to work with the Avenging Angels and recruit members of the organization in side missions. Members are required to don a beret and jacket, similar to the uniform of the real-life Guardian Angels. However, Avenging Angels berets are black (although in the PS2 version, they wear black beanies instead) and the jackets are green, as opposed to the red used on both the berets and jackets of the Guardian Angels. Avenging Angels also sport long combat pants and a T-shirt of varied designs and colors.

Their leader is Jesus Sentenz, also known as "Max". Although Sentenz never appears in-game, the official Liberty City Stories website features an "e-mail" from him in which he explains that "We protect street people from tha streets, and the streets from street people. Cause the streets respect the Avenging Angels man, and if they don't, we put them down on tha streets" and "the cops don't stop no crime, the cops don't help people and all that, the cops ain't positive, man". He also explains that an old lady being beaten to death at the hands of the Avenging Angels was a case of mistaken identity and says "you show me someone whose hasn't bin falsely incarcerated or shot by police and I'll show you a liar".

Security Guards

Appearances: GTA:VC, GTA:VCS

The Security guards are divided into two main subsects: Patrol Invest Group (P.I.G.) and DBP Security. Patrol Invest Group, is a security firm that mainly operates as a legitimate security force in Vice City, but they are involved in some illegal protection services. Their "turf," so to speak, are the areas of North Point Mall, Escobar International Airport, Leaf Links Golf Club, and Starfish Island. The P.I.G. appear in missions as hired protection for Congressman Alex Shrub and the band Love Fist. They also attack the Streetwannabes, Vercetti Gang, and the VCPD police officers. DBP Security are a smaller security firm that attempt to move in on some of Tommy Vercetti's protection rackets in Ocean Beach, which prompts him to kill all the guards involved and destroy their office. They also have links to the Vice City Triads, helping them with their illegal money printing operation by providing protection for them. In 1984, in Vice City Stories, the P.I.G. are still seen in the mall or around the airport, but they have not yet established themselves as a gang and haven't turned to crime yet.

Mexican Arms Dealers

Appearances: GTA VC

The Mexican Arms Dealers are a small time gang doing arms dealing across Vice City. The Mexican Arms Dealer's leader, Pedro Garcia, is rivals with Phil Cassidy, another arms dealer. After Vercetti's Bank Job, Phil calls Vercetti and invites him for some work, Phil wanted to highjack 4 weapons from 4 white Walton pickup trucks, there was two convoys of the trucks, one in Downtown and one in Little Haiti, Vercetti gets two guns off them and some Mexicans call for backup. Many Mexicans arrive on Faggio moped bikes and try to kill Vercetti, but Vercetti manages to get the other two guns and kills all the Mexicans. Pedro Garcia may have been one of those attacking Mexicans.

Counterfeit Syndicate

Appearances: GTA VC

The Counterfeit Syndicate is strangely a group of heavily armed women who are Florida-based. The Syndicate is devoted primarily to counterfeiting currency. In the GTA VC Mission "Hit The Courier", Tommy Vercetti ambushes the Syndicate in order to get some Counterfeiting Plates. The Counterfeit Syndicate has the Vice City Triads provide them with plates of specific currency they want to counterfeit.

South African Arms Dealers

Appearances: TBOGT

The South African Arms Dealers are a gang of Afrikaners who traffic in arms, drugs and human beings. They were led by Fricke van Hardenburg. They were killed by Luis Lopez when he stole an attack helicopter from their yacht and then used it to destroy it. He did this on the orders of Yusuf Amir, who simply wanted the chopper but also killed the South Africans.

Notes and references

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• Official Brady Games Strategy Guides:
  • GTA III
  • GTA: Vice City
  • GTA: San Andreas
  • GTA: Liberty City Stories
  • GTA: Vice City Stories
  • GTA: IIII

fr:Organisations criminelles de Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas nl:Lijst van bendes uit Grand Theft Auto pl:Mafia Rodziny Leone ro:Lista bandelor din Grand Theft Auto zh:俠盜獵車手系列的黑幫