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Intelligence Command Center // Transnational Organized Crime Profile //

Barrio 18

Barrio 18 (18th Street gang) mural insignia on a CommandEleven Intelligence card
FTOForeign Terrorist Organization // Designated Sep 24, 2025 // U.S. State Dept.

Profile Overview //

Organization Type
Street Gang / Franchise
Designation Status
US FTO and SDGT
FTO Designation
Yes Sep 24, 2025
Designation Detail
FTO designation effective Sept 24, 2025 by the U.S. State Department.
Area of Operation
Central America, North America
Force Strength
DATA DEFICIT: No sourced figure.
Leadership
DATA DEFICIT: not sourced
Headquarters
Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras) and United States
Coordinates
13.6929, -89.2182
Last Verified
2026-11-12

Operational Brief //

CommandEleven Intelligence Desk // Transnational Organized Crime Desk, status as of November 12, 2026

Bottom Line Up Front. Barrio 18, also known as the 18th Street gang, was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the State Department effective September 24, 2025, per the State Department list and press reporting at the time. It operates in Central America and the United States. The ODNI National Counterterrorism Center describes cartels and gangs generally as groups that mainly focus on drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion and arms dealing and use violence to control territory.

What We Could Not Source. Factional structure, leadership, force strength and 2026 developments were not in sources we could verify. Treated as DATA DEFICIT; this profile needs enrichment.

History, Goals and Doctrine //

Ideology

None. Profit-driven criminal enterprise.

Terror Group Links //

Link Nature

Logistical / Smuggling

Evidence Tier

DATA DEFICIT

Capabilities and Finance //

Weaponry Focus

Small Arms (Pistols/Rifles)

Technology Profile

DATA DEFICIT: No sourced assessment. We do not publish technical specifics.

Financial Vectors

Protection Money / Extortion

Cyber Assessment

DATA DEFICIT: No sourced information.

Governance and Control //

Territorial Controllers

DATA DEFICIT: Plaza-level controllers are not publicly mapped.

Administrative Responsibility

DATA DEFICIT: No sourced information.

Administrative HQ

DATA DEFICIT: Not publicly confirmed.

Command Table

DATA DEFICIT: No sourced information.

Court Registry

DATA DEFICIT: No sourced information.

Sources //

Sources