The MS-13 is Salvadoran. Before the US pushed the “peace process” on El Salvador it had a Guardia Nacional and a Policia de Hacienda that kept gangs (maras) from getting too organized. The GN and the PH were too small to keep the guerrillas in check once they established logistics through Nicaragua and were getting all manner of international help.
We forced El Salvador to get rid of its National Police and its less-corrupt and more effective Guardia and PH. They were replaced by the new “civilian” police that accepted former guerrillas. Then instead of having some teen gangs like the Mara Chancleta and the Mara Gallo they had the giant international MS-13.
Roberto D’Aubuisson....met him in 1982