Batos Locos or Vatos Locos is reported by various sources to be a slang term, originally used for describing chicano or latino neighbourhood "toughs," and more recently expanded in its use to describe chicano or latino youths, in some communities of the United States.

The only reference to a gang called Vatos Locos in Honduras found among the sources consulted, is a 2 May 1998 report from La Prensa. The report mentions the Vatos Locos mara or gang as one of the three main contenders in turf disputes for control of drug supply in San Pedro Sula. The highest incidence of trafficking and turf wars reportedly takes place in the Chamelecón sector of the city and the Cabañas and Suncery neighbourhoods; in these areas, the Vatos Locos dispute territory with the Mara Salvatrucha (MS) and the Mara 18.

The MS and the18th Street Gang (Mara 18) are gangs that originated among youths of Salvadorean descent in Los Angeles, California, and have expanded their criminal activities throughout North and Central America. For more information on these gangs, please consult previous Responses to Information Requests, available through the Refinfo database.

The only other reference to a Vatos Locos gang found among publicly available sources within the time constraints of this Response, is the description of a documentary film on the 38th Street Gang of Los Angeles, also referred to a La 38 and Vatos Locos (Ritual Films 30 Oct. 1998). The documentary states the gang began in South Central Los Angeles in the 1920 by chicanos or Mexican-Americans and has evolved into a more violent organization with more than 1,000 members across the United States (ibid.).

The only references to gangs operating in the San Lorenzo area of Honduras, and found among the sources consulted, are two reports from La Prensa, which mention the existence of at least 14 heavily armed gangs that operate at sea and on land in the Gulf of Fonseca region (22 Mar. 1997; 5 Apr. 1997). The reports, however, do not name the gangs, but state that they have operated with a high level of impunity against fishermen and shrimp farmers due to a lack of police or military presence and support (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

La Prensa [Tegucigalpa]. 2 May 1998. "Cocaína colombiana es convertida en crack en 'laboratorios' de San Pedro Sula." [Internet] http://www.laprensahn.com/natarc/ 9805/n02003.htm [Accessed 15 June 1999]

_____. 5 April 1997. "L.80 millones en producto se han robado delincuentes de las camaroneras del sur." [Internet] http://www.laprensahn.com/econoarc/ 9704e05001.htm [Accessed 15 June 1999]

_____. 22 March 1997. "Unas 14 bandas mantienen en zozobra a pescadores hondureños en Golfo de Fonseca." [Internet] http://www.laprensahn.com/natarc/9703/ n22001.htm [Accessed 15 June 1999]

Ritual Films [[Six-Shooter Junction, Tex.]. 30 October 1998. "Vatos Locos: The History of the 38th Street Gang." [Internet] http://members.aol.com/mexamfilms/page4. htm [Accessed 15 June 1999]

Central America NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. 1997-1999.

Central America Report [Guatemala City]. 1997-1999.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, REFWORLD, Global NewsBank, Internet, WNC.

Note:

This list is not exhaustive. It does not include country-specific publications available at the Resource Centre.