Mara Salvatrucha 13, or MS-13, is a transnational, mainly Hispanic, street gang notorious for its adherence to a methodology of extreme violence to enforce fear and establish street credibility. MS-13 diverges from the traditional American street gang model in that it maintains cross border organizational ties, and currently poses a serious threat throughout Central America, Mexico, and Canada, as well as domestically in the United States. In Virginia, the influx of Salvadoran immigrants to the Washington. DC metro area has created the second domestic center for the gang’s American presence. Membership has been documented across the National Capitol Region and in central Virginia, making it the major gang threat to Northern Virginia and a major concern for the Commonwealth as a whole. Demographic change in the Commonwealth, combined with the potential expansion of MS-13 membership to non-Hispanic individuals, constitutes a serious potential threat to public safety.

Nuevo Laredo Mexican Drug Cartel Gun Battle Extreme Carnage Overview, July 22, 2010.

(U//LES) DoJ “Paths to Radicalization” Briefing, June 2010.

Outlaw Motorcycle (OMG) and Street Gangs have been active for several years in Washington State. Both Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMG) and Street Gangs have now become entrenched in the region. Street Gangs are involved in a variety of crimes to include drug trafficking, fraud, and prostitution, and have formed alliances with other gangs. They often serve as distribution networks for Mexican National Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs). Gang membership and affiliation continue to rise in Washington State. Many gangs have infiltrated Indian Country and cooperated with DTOs, which has enabled them to recruit additional members. Both street gangs and OMGs pose a serious threat to the safety of law enforcement personnel and to the safety of local communities.

In order for criminal justice professionals to effectively combat terrorism/extremism, it is imperative to obtain as much information as possible. Extremist groups often develop languages of their own. Some have created terms that are unique in the English language, while others have given new or expanded meaning to relatively common words and phrases. In addition, certain symbols, events, organizations, and individuals have particular significance for members of some extremist organizations, none of which may be familiar to an investigator or prosecutor who has not previously been involved with such cases. Investigating Terrorism and Criminal Extremism—Terms and Concepts is a glossary designed primarily as a tool for criminal justice professionals to enhance their understanding of words relating to extremist terminology, phrases, activities, symbols, organizations, and selected names that they may encounter while conducting criminal investigations or prosecutions of members of extremist organizations. Included are terms that may be germane to members of an extremist movement. Also defined are words that are singularly employed by specific extremist groups. Legal terms that have been given new meanings by groups’ adherents are also defined. Similarly, certain terms that describe activities and tactics commonly undertaken by extremists are also included. Significant groups, organizations, movements, and publications that are important for an understanding of terrorism/extremism in the United States and that may be encountered by law enforcement officers and prosecutors are also documented. Inasmuch as this publication is primarily intended to define terms, individuals indexed by name are limited in occurrence. However, there are some people who are of such importance to certain segments of the extremist movement that their very names are equated with that cause. Therefore, some of the better-known terrorists are included.

Confidential Law Enforcement Telephone, Cellular, Satellite & VoIP Investigation Guide, March 10, 2010.

(U//LES) IN RESPONSE TO THE ARRESTS, MILITIA EXTREMISTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE POSTED, AND CONTINUE TO POST, RHETORIC ON INTERNET BLOGS AND MESSAGE BOARDS. THE POSTS VARY WIDELY IN NATURE. SOME POSTS SIMPLY RELAY INFORMATION OF THE ARRESTS, WHILE OTHERS INTERPRET THE ARRESTS AS A SIGN OF MORE ACTION TO COME AGAINST MILITIAS. OTHER POSTINGS CRITICIZE THE ARRESTED MEMBERS, WHILE OTHERS ARE PLEDGING SUPPORT TO THE GROUP. MILITIA EXTREMIST RHETORIC TYPICALLY CONSISTS OF CALLS TO ACTION AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OR A STATE OF HEIGHTENED ALERT. THESE STATEMENTS PRIMARILY HAVE SERVED AS AN EXPRESSION OF ANGER AFTER A PARTICULAR
EVENT. THE FBI ASSESSES THE LIKELIHOOD OF VIOLENT CONFLICT FROM THE REMAINING GROUP MEMBERS OR OTHER MILITIA EXTREMISTS AS LOW.

The NJ ROIC has been monitoring two incidents involving reactionary devices on this date, 06/27/10, one that occurred at 0100 Hours in Lakewood Twp., Ocean Co., and another that occurred at 1145 Hours in Neptune Twp., Monmouth Co. Both incidents involved reactionary devices that are being described as soda bottles (12 oz. to 2 liters) containing a strong acid or base, aluminum foil inside the container, and tape securing the bottle cap. The substances inside these bottles create a chemical reaction, which results in pressure building in the bottle. Eventually, these containers explode creating a risk to law enforcement officers and first responders. First responders should keep a distance of at least 100 feet from any of these devices as a precautionary measure.

(U//FOUO//LES) California Military Department Antiterrorism Bulletin March 2010.

(U//FOUO) This bulletin provides information on a growing trend involving the use of an herb-based product similar to marijuana known as “Spice”, or “K2”. The product is being used to get high and it is legal to purchase.

Special attention should continue to be directed for unattended packages, suspicious persons and vehicles. IEDs concealed as unattended baggage remains a staple tactic of terrorist adversaries targeting mass transit. Noteworthy examples are the attacks in Madrid, March 2004, and in London, July 2005. While some placed IEDs used in these and other attacks were hidden, others remained in plain sight as unattended baggage.

Enterprise and Hertz rental car agencies have added a feature to their websites that allows clients to retrieve up to six months of rental records by inserting their last name and driver’s license number into a search field. While intended for business travelers who need to print receipts for expense reports, it could be a useful investigative tool for those in possession of a suspect’s name and driver’s license number. However, officers should also be aware that it could pose a threat to undercover police operations.

A new type of crystal methamphetamine with a blue color tint is surfacing sporadically in the United States, primarily in California, Washington, and Texas. This substance, known as “blue meth” or “blue ice,” is allegedly more potent and more expensive than traditional crystal methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a synthetic stimulant that is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance and is a widely abused drug. Although it is commonly sold in powder form, it is also distributed as crystals – crystal meth or ice. According to the 2005 Federal Sentencing Guidelines Manual, Chapter 2 Part D, Note (C), “Ice,” for the purposes of this guideline, means a mixture or substance containing dmethamphetamine hydrochloride of at least 80% purity.

(U//LES) Recent law enforcement reporting indicates that Black Guerilla Family (BGF) members are using language training manuals to learn Arabic at Pelican Bay State Prison in Crescent City, California. Both corrections officers and FBI cryptanalysts believe this will lead to inmates using Arabic to create secret codes to communicate. This raises safety concerns for law enforcement officials who may come in contact with BGF associates using Arabic to conceal criminal activity.

On May 8, 2010, a Spanish-language flyer was placed on a vehicle in Brownsville, Texas, warning that the upcoming weekend of May 15-17, 2010, would be one of the “most violent weekends in all of Mexican history” as members of an unidentified drug trafficking organization allegedly plan to battle an unspecified rival criminal organization.

Washington Regional Threat and Analysis Center Officer Safety Issues, March 2009.

(U//FOUO) Threats to the U.S. highway system (including tunnels, bridges, long-haul buses, school buses, and commercial trucks) emanate from transnational and domestic terrorist organizations, as well as from insiders and special interest groups. However, the primary threat stems from al-Qa’ida, its affiliates, and other Sunni Muslim extremists, whether foreign or domestic. No reporting indicates a current, credible, and specific terrorist threat to U.S. highway interests. However, since 1993 at least three terrorist plots to bomb tunnels and bridges in the United States have been disrupted, aborted, or abandoned. Further, recurring suspicious incidents involving U.S. highway infrastructure and assets could reflect pre-operational terrorist planning. Thus far, however, no definitive link has been established between any of the suspicious incidents and terrorism.

Digital currencies combine the intrinsic value of gold and other precious metals as well as the designated value of national currencies with the worldwide reach of the Internet to create an ideal mechanism for international money laundering. Users can anonymously fund digital currency accounts, send those funds (sometimes in unlimited amounts) to other digital currency accounts worldwide, and effectively exchange the funds for foreign currencies—often while bypassing U.S. regulatory oversight.

Public Intelligence has received several messages from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department this past week requesting the removal of a Law Enforcement Sensitive document which was published on March 25, 2010 regarding Nevada’s “Silver Shield” infrastructure protection program. The document, which is from November 2007, reveals that Las Vegas Police are using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and systems to patrol the city and deliver aerial imagery during incidents or special events. Though isolated reports of domestic UAV use do exist, there has not been widespread coverage of the growing use of unmanned aircraft systems over U.S. cities.

K2, or SPICE, is a new illicit drug product that has begun to appear in a limited number of drug markets in the United States. This product is a small package of herbal blends and appears to be treated with differing versions of synthetic Cannabinoids. Effects are reportedly analogous to marijuana but include additional dangers to users such as panic attacks, heart palpitations, hallucinations, delusions, vomiting, increased agitation, dilated pupils, and other symptoms.

(U//LES) “Partyvan Pranks” Responsible for “SWATTING” and Hoax Bomb Threats to Purdue and Various Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Universities from 15 – 26 February 2009

LES excerpt from Northern California Regional Intelligence Center Officer Awareness Bulletin concerning Radio Frequency Jammers, February-March 2010.

FOUO/LES Baltimore Police Department Bulletin on Guns That Look Like Toys.

A new kind of methamphetamine that has a strawberry flavor and bright pink coloring was seized for the first time in Carson City, Nevada during a search of an apartment on January 27, 2007. Flavored methamphetamine is the newest metamorphosis of the dangerous street drug. It appears that the flavor and color were added to the meth during the cooking process, instead of afterward, which would mean the drug does not have any less potency than its common counterpart. The colored and flavored methamphetamine, known as “Strawberry Quick” in the Sacramento, California area and now in Carson City, is popular among new users who snort it because the flavoring can cut down on the taste.

(U//FOUO//LES) Washington Regional Threat and Analysis Center Officer Safety Issues, November 2009.