Violent Latin American Gang 'Los Trinitarios' Linked to Three London Murders

A transnational street gang known as Los Trinitarios, originating from Latin America and feared for its use of machetes, has reportedly established a presence in London and is linked to three recent killings in the capital. The gang, founded in 1993 by Dominican inmates at New York's Rikers Island prison, has spread across the Americas and into Spain.

Los Trinitarios is known for criminal activities including drug dealing, armed robbery, and sex trafficking. Members often wear green bandannas, and in the U.S., they are said to favor machetes as a more "personal" weapon. The gang derives its name from "La Trinitaria," a historical Dominican independence society, though its modern recruits come from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Investigators believe the gang's leaders are recruiting children from Spanish-speaking communities, particularly around the Elephant and Castle area in south London. While the Metropolitan Police have not officially commented on the gang's presence, Spanish authorities have indicated its activities extend to Europe, with a statement noting the "Trinitarios youth group is currently one of the most active and violent groups nationwide" and has branches in several European countries involved in drug trafficking, document forgery, and scams.

The most recent killing linked to the gang involved the stabbing death of 17-year-old Yeray Sanchez Morales outside a McDonald's on Old Kent Road in southeast London on August 27 of the previous year. Morales was attacked with a knife and a bottle in front of other teenagers. His attackers, including 18-year-olds Christhofer Jesus Vasquez and Andres Tapia Londono, were convicted of manslaughter and received four-year sentences. Several other individuals, including minors, received community orders for related offenses.

Morales, originally from Lanzarote, had reportedly settled well in London and dreamed of becoming a PE teacher. His mother described him as someone who "loved to dance and sing."

Another murder victim, 21-year-old Giovanny Rendon Bedoya, was killed in an April attack in Walworth. He was pursued into an alleyway and brutally attacked with machetes, suffering severe injuries. Five men were convicted of his murder, including Angel Gonzalez Angulo, who fled to Spain but was later extradited to the UK to face trial. The Spanish interior ministry stated he was wanted for accosting another young man following a dispute.

In a separate incident, 36-year-old Gregory Catillo Volquez was fatally stabbed 22 times on a street in north London on January 13 of the previous year. Three men, identified as Benito Ramirez Kones, Carlos Akum Metumbe, and Luiggi Perelli Santana, were convicted of his murder and collectively sentenced to 68 years in prison.