Episode 103: Bob Clifford – MS-13, Mara Salvatrucha

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In this episode, retired agent Bob Clifford reviews the organization and operation of the transnational gang MS-13, Mara Salvatrucha, the most dangerous gang in America.

In November 2004, Bob Clifford was asked by then FBI Director Robert Mueller to accept a special assignment to FBIHQ to establish the FBI’s MS-13 National Gang Task Force, and served as its first director. For the next 18 months, Bob led multi-agency and multi-national efforts to combat the infamous MS-13 and other violent transnational street gangs, to include several deployments throughout Central America to successfully garner international cooperation and intelligence-sharing.

In addition to coordinating multiple law enforcement field operations, Bob was required to appear before White House, Congressional, and Cabinet-level officials on a regular basis. The task force is now known as the Transnational Anti-Gang (TAG) Task Force initiative.

Special Agent (Retired)

Robert Clifford

1/9/1989 – 6/30/2012

Retired agent Bob Clifford served with the FBI for 24 years.

During his career, he rose from FBI Special Agent to Senior Executive with responsibilities that specialized in international terrorism, counter-espionage, nuclear proliferation, and transnational criminal gangs. His assignments included FBI field offices, FBI Headquarters, the Iraq combat theater, and international and diplomatic postings throughout the world, including US embassies, the European Union, and NATO.

Bob is the recipient of numerous awards and decorations, to include FBI Director’s Award for Counterterrorism, the Director of National Intelligence Commendation Award, the Award of Excellence from the National Counterintelligence Executive, and the Bolivian National Police Medal of Merit. In 2004, he received the Service to America Medal and was named Federal Employee of the Year.

Bob was previously interviewed on Episodes 96 and 97 of FBI Retired Case File Review about his investigation and capture of the only surviving hijacker responsible for the hijacking of Egypt Air Flight 648.

The following are FBI, magazine, and newspaper articles about the violent gang and the FBI’s MS-13, Mara Salvatrucha National Gang Task Force, now known as the Transnational Anti-Gang (TAG) Task Force initiative:

FBI Website – What We Investigate- Gangs

Business Insider – 9/26/2015:  Photos of the men of El Salvador’s Penas Ciudad Barrios — a prison so dangerous even the guards stay outside

Voice of America – 10/27/2009:  Latino Street Gangs a Major Law Issue in US

The Christian Science Monitor – 2/24/2005:  FBI confronts new gang threat

Newsweek – 3/27/2005:  THE MOST DANGEROUS GANG IN AMERICA

Washington Times – 5/4/2005:  Gang follows illegal aliens