A scandal has erupted in Collado Villalba, in northwest Madrid: police have detained a group of young people linked to the notorious Latin American gangs Trinitarios, Blood, and Forty-Two. These teenagers, barely of legal age, had formed a single organization and, according to investigators, acted with striking audacity. Their activity escalated after one minor was released from a temporary detention center.
The operation resulted in the arrest of six minors, with eleven more people identified as suspects. They face charges of participating in a criminal organization, causing bodily harm, issuing threats, and committing violent robberies. All those detained have already given testimony, and by order of the prosecutor’s office, four teenagers have been sent to a juvenile detention center.
A surge in aggression
In the final months of last year, Collado Villalba and surrounding areas saw a worrying increase in street attacks. Local residents began to notice that the streets were becoming more dangerous, while the police recorded a steady rise in aggressive behavior among young people. It soon became clear that these gangs were behind most of the incidents, not only clashing with each other but also terrorizing local residents.
Of particular concern was the fact that minors were involved. Their actions showed cruelty and planning: the attacks were meticulously prepared, and victims were chosen in advance. In one incident, the confrontation escalated to a stabbing, which became the tipping point for law enforcement.
Gangs and Revenge
The investigation revealed that those detained were preparing a series of revenge attacks against rival groups. The feud between Trinitarios, Latin Kings, and other youth gangs has long gone beyond typical street conflicts. This time, it was a real turf war in which teenagers made no secret of using force and staging acts of intimidation.
Police point out that such alliances between different gangs are a new phenomenon for Madrid. Usually, these groups act independently, but in Collado Villalba they joined forces for a common goal. This allowed them to operate more cohesively and effectively, although it ultimately did not save them from exposure.
Public Reaction
Local residents are alarmed: many fear that even after the gang leaders’ arrests, street violence will not stop. Parents are demanding stricter oversight over young people, and authorities have promised tougher security measures. However, not everyone believes this will work—the problem of teenage gangs runs too deep in the suburbs of Madrid.
The situation in Collado Villalba is just the tip of the iceberg. In recent years, Spain has seen a rise in activity among youth criminal gangs, making the fight against them increasingly difficult. Police admit that without a comprehensive approach and community involvement, it is impossible to defeat this problem.
