GANGS

Grove Street Families

The Grove Street Families are a black/Afro-American street gang in Los Santos and used to be the most powerful gang in Los Santos but have been silenced over the past few years by drugs, internal disagreements and their sworn enemies, the Ballas. The Seville Boulevard Families (controlling only a small area in south-east Los Santos) and the Temple Drive Families (controlling western Los Santos territories) have split from the Grove, so just because they're wearing green doesn't mean they are necessarily allies. Whilst these events took place, Vagos and Ballas took over. Everyday, Grove Street gets weaker, and the Ballas get stronger. Grove Street OG's include Sweet (Sean Johnson), Big Smoke (Melvin Harris, formally), Ryder (Lance Wilson, formally) and CJ (Carl Johnson). They are allies with the Varrios Los Aztecas.

The families must re-unite if they are ever to rise again. The Grove Street Families control the areas of Ganton, Playa del Seville, Temple, and Santa Maria Beach. Later in the game, they also take over Glen Park and Idlewood.

They are involved in gang banging, gang warfare, gang-related homicide, murder, gun running/arms dealing, street violence, robbery, protection, and vandalism. Unlike the Ballas and Vagos, they are heavily against drug dealing. They are either unarmed or carry 9mm pistols and Tec9s, they can be seen drinking beer and smoking marijuana while hanging in groups and their gang color is green. If gang members are unarmed when they are recruited to the gang they automatically receive a 9mm pistol. They drive Greenwoods, Savannas and Voodoos and listen to Radio Los Santos. When CJ comes by the jail to pick up Sweet, his brother, some of the GSF gang members have either become addicted to drugs, gone into hiding, left the gang, defected to the Ballas, or were employed by Big Smoke as cash couriers, in addition to drug dealers having a stronghold in Ganton and Grove Street.

BALLAS

The Ballas are the largest and most powerful black/afro-American street gang in Los Santos and have a bitter rivalry with the Grove Street Families. The Ballas come in Four sets - Front Yard Ballas, Rollin' Heights Ballas, Kilo Tray Ballas and the Temple Drive Ballas. The Front Yard Ballas are Los Santos' most notorious drug dealers, Grove Street's biggest rivals and control the areas of Idlewood and East Los Santos. The Rollin Heights Ballas act as backup and control the area of Jefferson, and some parts of Willowfield and East Los Santos. The Kilo Tray Ballas only control the area of Glen Park, and some parts of Willowfield. The Temple Drive Ballas are a much smaller set based in Verona Beach and formerly Temple prior to 1992 (hence their name) until Grove Street took it over. The Ballas eventually lose their Glen Park and Idlewood territory to the Grove Street Families.

The Ballas are battling with their rivals Vagos, Varrios Los Aztecas, and especially the Grove Street Families to control South Central Los Santos. The Ballas have been around since the 1970s - Involved in drug dealing, gang banging, protection, murder, gang warfare, gang-related homicide, robbery, street violence, arms dealing, vandalism, degeneracy, but mainly, the cocaine trade. Mindless, uncontrollable, and have ties with Big Smoke and the Loco Syndicate for drugs (mainly crack cocaine), and the Russian Mafia for weapons.

They can be seen drinking beer and smoking marijuana while hanging in groups, their gang color is purple. They are either unarmed or carry Micro SMGs and 9mm pistols, but when in gang war with them they have AK-47s, MP5s, Shotguns, 9mm pistols, Micro SMGs, and Baseball Bats. In some missions, they are equipped with Tec9s. They can be seen driving Tahomas and Majestics and their favorite radio station is Bounce FM.

Part of their strategy to wipe the Grove Street Families out is to spread crack cocaine into their territory, which they primairly get secretly from Big Smoke. Later in the game, they receive more crack-cocaine from Big Smoke in return for protection of his drug empire.

Los Santos Vagos

The Vagos are a large and powerful Mexican Los Santos street gang that sport yellow bandanas, and occupy a majority of the far North and East areas of Los Santos, namely Las Colinas, East Beach, and Los Flores. This Hispanic gang are sworn enemies of the Varrios Los Aztecas but are also enemies with the Grove Street Families and Ballas. They are known to attack in large numbers. Heavily involved in drug trade (especially crack cocaine), gang banging, street violence, arms dealing, gang-related homicide, gang warfare, murder, protection, robbery, and vandalism.

They can be seen drinking beer and smoking marijuana while hanging in groups. They are either unarmed or carry 9mm pistols and Micro SMGs, during a gang war, they are also equipped with MP5s, AK47s, Shotguns, and Baseball Bats. In some missions, they are also equipped with TEC-9s and M4s. The Vagos have a major involvement in Big Smoke's crack business for narcotics in return for protection along with the Ballas - the only situation where the two gangs cooperate. They drive Hermes', Oceanics and Tornados and their favorite radio station is K-DST.

They were strong enemies with the San Fierro Rifa until they joined the narcotics business. From then, the Rifa and Vagos often dealt with narcotics.

Varrios Los Aztecas

A small-time Latin/Mexican Los Santos street gang based in the barrios of El Corona and Little Mexico in addition to Unity Station - a popular meeting spot for the Aztecas, distinctly recognised by their turquoise bandanas. They have a major rivalry with the Los Santos Vagos and San Fierro Rifa but are also enemies with the Grove Street Families and the nearby Ballas. They are heavily involved in gun running/arms dealing, street violence, gang banging, gang warfare, gang-related homicide, murder, robbery, vandalism, illegal street racing, and carjacking but are slowly diminishing. The Varrios Los Aztecas are traditionally anti-narcotics and part of their identity is heavily involved in the lowrider culture.

They can be seen drinking beer and smoking marijuana while hanging in groups. They can be seen roaming around in San Fierro. They are either unarmed or carry 9mm pistols and Micro SMGs. Their main involvements are illegal street racing, arms dealing/gun running, and carjacking. Gang veterans include Cesar Vialpando, Jose, Sunny, Gal and Hazer. They drive Broadways, Hermes' and Glendales and their favorite radio station is Playback FM. They are allies with the Grove Street Families.

Despite the fact that Cesar, a high ranking member (may also be the leader), is a friend of the protagonist, this gang will be hostile towards the player and will attack CJ unprovoked.