State public safety officials say they believe more than 100,000 people are members of gangs that are a threat to public safety in Texas.
The estimate was released Thursday as part of an annual report issued by the state Department of Public Safety. Authorities say the gangs posing the greatest threat to public safety are Tango Blast, Texas Syndicate, Texas Mexican Mafia and Barrio Azteca.
Tango Blast and affiliated groups are believed to have membership in excess of 8,200. Texas Syndicate may have more than 4,400 members.
DPS says many Texas gangs continue to work with Mexican cartels to smuggle drugs, weapons, people and cash across the border. The associations have changed over the last year as power struggles evolve among some cartels.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
