The Rise of MS13 and Militarized Mexican Drug Cartels

Today is the second in a two-part series on BORDERLAND, examining the MS13 gang and the massive crackdown taking place in El Salvador. Last week, we spoke with Alex Papadovassilakis and Steven Dudley of the organization InSight Crime, to talk about efforts to clear the country of gang violence, the 70,000 people who’ve been arrested, and the mega prisons that are housing them. This week, we do a deep dive into the origins of the notorious street gang and how they differ from Mexican cartels. The fentanyl cri...