Texas has thousands of localized cliques and hundreds of distinct gangs, with an estimated 100,000 active gang members across the state. Rather than one or two dominant groups, the state’s organized crime landscape is vast and includes large prison syndicates, transnational organizations, and fragmented street cliques. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) categorizes the major gangs posing the most significant threats as follows: [1]

Tier 1 Gangs (Highest Threat Level)

These groups are considered the highest threat due to their large memberships (ranging from several hundred to tens of thousands), statewide reach, high propensity for violence, and established ties with Mexican drug cartels. [1, 2]

• Tango Blast / Tango Cliques: The largest and fastest-growing group in Texas, consisting of regional cliques (e.g., Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• Texas Syndicate (Sindicato Tejano / TS): A highly structured prison and street gang with thousands of members, heavily involved in trafficking and violence. [1, 2]
• Texas Mexican Mafia (Mexikanemi / EME): A formidable prison gang deeply entrenched in the state’s drug trade. [1, 2, 3]
• Barrio Azteca: Highly active along the Texas-Mexico border (especially El Paso) with significant transnational criminal operations. [1, 2, 3]
• Latin Kings: A nationally established gang with a strong, organized presence across Texas cities. [1, 2, 3]

Other Major Security Threat Groups & Street Gangs

• White Supremacist Gangs: The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) and Aryan Circle (AC).
• Hispanic Prison Gangs: Hermanos de Pistoleros Latinos (HPL) and Texas Chicano Brotherhood (TXCB).
• International/Transnational Gangs: Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang.
• National Street Gangs: Significant presence of sets aligned with the Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciples.
• Regional Texas Gangs: Tri-City Bombers (dominant in South/Central Texas), Mexicles, and localized Tango subsets. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

For more information on the specific groups and threat levels, you can review the latest Texas Gang Threat Assessment or explore the Wikipedia Category: Gangs in Texas. [1, 2]