The World's Most Dangerous Gangs

Foreign Policy this month boils down the world's most dangerous gangs to four, which must have led to some grizzly editorial wrangling.

From the 100,000 "machete-wielding" Mungiki of Kenya to the estimated 10,000 members United Bamboo of Taiwan, these small armies bring a post-apocalyptic vision of urban lawlessness to life by engaging in all manner of terror, from smuggling, to extortion to violent political action. Increasingly, their dealings reach beyond borders. They make globe-trotting arms dealers like Victor Bout seem practically small-time.

Read about the growing sophistication and brutality  of groups like the Mara Salvatruchas of Central America, and then try to stay out of their way.

--Matthew Fishbane