Once you join them, the only ways out are the church or death. We met with a former member of the U.S.-founded gang MS-13, now hiding from his former associates.
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00:00The Mara MS-13 was cut into 13 pieces, according to their symbol.
00:14We're going to destroy the vile criminal cartel MS-13 and many other gangs.
00:21La Mara Salvatrucha, better known as MS-13, is one of the most dangerous and violent gangs in the world.
00:28If you don't fulfill your mission, you'll be beaten up for 13 seconds.
00:36That's why it's called MS-13, because they'll beat you up for 13 seconds.
00:42We will find you, we will arrest you, we will jail you, and we will deport you.
00:49MS-13 is a very organized gang. They sell drugs, run war camps, do drugs, and kill people.
01:19He's been wanted by the gang ever since he fled his native Honduras,
01:22so he met with our reporter and a translator in a secret location where he described the atrocities that he's seen.
01:37When did you join the gang?
01:49I was 18 years old when I killed the first person.
01:54I killed a person with a gun, I'm not going to lie.
01:59Do you know how many people have been killed by MS-13?
02:04I don't know.
02:06I don't know how many people have been killed by MS-13.
02:10I don't know how many people have been killed by MS-13.
02:14I don't know how many people have been killed by MS-13.
02:18Do you know how many people you killed?
02:31Did you know at that time why MS-13 asked you to kill these people?
02:36Yes, because the truth is that we killed these people because they wanted to escape from the Mara MS.
02:49Each of us has a salary.
02:52I earned almost 1,500 pesos a week to take care of the neighborhood.
02:58When they sent you to kill people, you earned a privilege.
03:04They wanted money, women, clothes, guns.
03:10These were privileges that you earned with them.
03:13How did you feel after you killed these people?
03:15When I killed the first person, I was nervous.
03:19I wanted to smoke.
03:21I had a lot on my mind.
03:24They could do this to me, to my mom, I don't know.
03:27But you have to do it for yourself, because you're already in the family.
03:34You have to do what they tell you to do.
03:43Did you obey to any order they were giving you back at the time you were in the MS-13?
03:49I had to do what they told me to do.
03:51You can't disobey.
03:53If you disobey, you'll be punished.
03:55You'll be shot the first time.
03:58If you don't do your mission, you'll be hit.
04:02Thirteen seconds of kicks, punches, and everything.
04:07That's why it's called MS-13.
04:10Because they give you thirteen seconds.
04:12They give you a beating.
04:15The second time, they hit you in the ribs.
04:18And the third time, if you fail, they kill you.
04:22MS-13 is known for executions and kidnappings, but also for torture.
04:27Many of its victims have been found dismembered.
04:30So when you were in the MS-13, you witnessed many killings?
04:33People being butchered like this?
04:35Yes, I saw one.
04:37They cut them into pieces and put them in a plasma box.
04:41The MS-13 machine gun.
04:44They cut them into thirteen pieces.
04:47When they saw the symbol they had, they said,
04:51Bring me the person.
04:53And they started to get information.
04:56And seeing the information they were getting,
04:59they cut the people into pieces.
05:03I only heard the screams and how they were killed.
05:07So that they believe that the MS-13 machine gun
05:13is always in every neighborhood.
05:16They are the most organized gang in Honduras and Central America.
05:20But I never tried to kill a person in pieces.
05:23Because I didn't dare.
05:26I didn't have the guts to kill anyone.
05:36What made you leave the gang?
05:39The truth is that it wasn't for me anymore.
05:43I felt that if they killed me, I would go to jail.
05:47Because in the neighborhood where we were, it was very hot.
05:51More than anything, my son was born.
05:54And more than anything, I did it for him.
05:57How did you leave the gang?
05:59To be able to get rid of the gang,
06:01I had to run away from my country.
06:04To be able to get rid of them,
06:07the only solution was to go to church or run away.
06:13There are two ways to get out of the gang.
06:16But once you're inside the gang, you can't get out.
06:19So if you go back to Honduras,
06:21you think the MS-13 will kill you?
06:24Of course, yes.
06:26Did you ever think of going to the police
06:29or to the justice system in Honduras to seek for protection?
06:33The truth is that even if you go to the government of Honduras,
06:38they won't help you.
06:41Because the problem is, as I told you, organized.
06:44They can buy police officers,
06:46they can buy many things from people, businessmen.
06:50Even businessmen have died because of the same thing.
06:54Even the same police officers betray you, sell you.
06:58They don't help the police officers in Honduras.
07:02After so much violence, how do you go back to a normal life?
07:07Well, the truth is that right now, as I've been living,
07:11I try to live a life, work, earn my living honestly,
07:15not bother anyone, move forward
07:18and not try to make the same mistakes I made before here.
07:29Do you have any regrets in all the things you've been doing for the MAR?
07:33Yes, I regret it because I killed people that I really didn't want to kill
07:40because it was to survive.
07:42To survive on the streets, the gangs, the drugs.
07:46I regret it because sometimes, more than anything, it was for my family.
07:50Do you believe in God?
07:52Yes, I believe in God.
07:55I believe a lot in God.
07:57My whole family is Christian.
07:59Realize that God forgives you.
08:04God forgives everything you do.
08:08I've felt bad, bad, very bad sometimes,
08:13but I've felt that God has been with me.
08:17He has helped me in all those situations.
08:20He has protected me in all the paths I've taken.
08:24And yes, the truth is that God is the only one who helps you.