has released its 2012 Gang Threat Assessment, providing an overview of gang activity throughout the state.
The annual report says that current gang membership across Texas likely surpasses 100,000 individuals 鈥� and it's still increasing.鈥淲hile gangs continue to pose a significant threat to public safety in Texas, we are committed to protecting the people of Texas from these criminals,鈥� DPS Director Steven McCraw says.
With more than 10,000 gang members, Tango Blast was named the biggest gang in Texas. It's biggest in the Houston area, while also keeping a heavy presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
鈥淲e know that gangs are one of the top organized-crime threats to the state of Texas,鈥� said Sen. Craig Estes, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Homeland Security.
The DPS assessment also says that some of Texas鈥� most powerful gangs have formed strong ties with Mexican cartels, increasing violence in both Texas and Mexico.
