Gangs in GTA III

This is about the gangs in Grand Theft Auto III.

Major gangs

Leone Family (aka the Mafia)

Led by Salvatore Leone, the Leone Family has been a force in Liberty City longer than any other gang. They are based in Portland Island, in particular Saint Mark's, but also have interests in the Red Light District, Chinatown and Trenton. They had previously controlled more of the city, but in 1998 they saw their influence greatly reduced. They have a fierce rivalry with the Triads. They became hostile towards Claude after he kills their leader Salvatore Leone under orders of Yakuza leader Asuka Kasen in the mission Sayonara Salvatore

Triads

The Triads is a Chinese criminal organization that arrived in the city in 1998, with help from the Sicilian Mafia. They control the Chinatown and the Callahan Point area of Portland and are the enemies of the Leone Family. The leader of the Triads is unknown. They are hostile to the player after the missions Trial By Fire or The Pick-Up.

Diablos

The Diablos is a Puerto Rican street gang led by El Burro and based in Hepburn Heights, Portland Island. They arrived in 1998 but, due to their limited fire power, could only gain control of one district. Three years later, the gang still has limited fire power, however, they continue to hold onto Hepburn Heights. They are arch rivals of the Uptown Yardies. They became hostile towards Claude after he commits a massacre of Diablo members under orders of Yardies leader King Courtney.

Colombian Cartel

The Colombian Cartel or simply the Cartel is a Colombian drug cartel co-led by Catalina and Miguel. First arriving in 1998, they quickly gained control of parts of Staunton Island and Shoreside Vale. They heavily involved in the drugs trade and are known to deal with the Uptown Yardies. Their main enemies are the Leone Family and the Yakuza. Since it is the gang Catalina is leading, they are hostile to the player since the beginning of the game.

Yakuza

The Yakuza is a Japanese criminal organization based in Staunton Island. Since they arrived in Liberty City in 1998, their influence has fallen but are still a prominent force in the city. They are co-led by Asuka and Kenji Kasen. They are arch rivals of the Colombian Cartel, both divide their territories in Fort Staunton.

Uptown Yardies

The Uptown Yardies or simply the Yardies is an African-Caribbean criminal organization led by King Courtney, based in Staunton Island. Their rivals are the Diablos, and they are known to deal with the Colombian Cartel. They arrived in the city in 1998, and took control of some of the Forelli Family's territories, but have limited influence. They beacame hostile towards Claude after they ally to the Colombian Cartel and betray him in the mission Kingdom Come.

Southside Hoods

The Southside Hoods is an African-American street gang led by D-Ice and based in the poorer areas of Shoreside Vale, (appearing more in Wichita Gardens). They arrived in the city in 1998, however conflicts in the gang began to show. Eventually, the gang split into two sub divisions, the Red Jacks and the Purple Nines. Despite their differences, they continue to work together. After the mission Rumble, the Purple Nines are permanently wiped out from the game, meanwhile the Red Jacks continues to walk its turf on the streets.

Minor gangs

Forelli Family (aka the Forelli Bros.)

The Forelli Family, also known as the Forelli Brothers, are the smallest organization in Liberty City. Their current boss is unknown, though it is possible they are led by Mike Forelli. In the 1980s the Forelli Family had been a major force in the city, but their influence greatly decreased during 1986 after the killings of their Don Sonny Forelli and several other members in Vice City. Their hold on Liberty's criminal underworld was weakened even further in 1992, with the deaths of several of their members at the hands of Carl Johnson, and again during 1998 due to Toni Cipriani and the Leone Family. According to police files on the GTA III website, they became subordinate to the Leones prior to 2001, but would later strive to break free from the latter. This would cause tensions to rise once more between the two crime families. By 2001, their only territory is Marco's Bistro in Saint Mark's. However, their members are never seen walking the streets during normal gameplay.

Zaibatsu Corporation

The Zaibatsu Corporation, mentioned although unseen in the game, are a criminal organization founded in Liberty City at some time prior to the events of GTA III. They are known to the general public as a pharmaceutical company, distributing medical products such as Equanox, as advertised on the radio, to the citizens of Liberty.

Trivia

• By the end of the game, 5 of the 7 acting gangs (Colombian Cartel, Yardies, Diablos, Leone Family and the Triads) become hostile to Claude, meaning that if the player walk inside their territories, the gang members will automatically attack Claude. The most dangerous gang is the Leone Family, since they have powerful shotguns, which can easy blow up a normal car in two shots.
• The Triads and the Cholos (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories) are the only gangs in the 3D Universe that does not have a known boss.
• The Yakuza and the (unseen) Zaibatsu Corporation are the only gangs in this game to be carried over from the previous games.
• The Forelli Family and the Zaibatsu Corporation are the only gangs in GTA III whose members never appear during normal gameplay, although the Forellis do appear during missions and Zaibatsu is mentioned on the radio.
• The Zaibatsu Corporation is the only gang in this game whose turf is unknown, as their members never appear in-game, no buildings are explicitly identified as being their property, and they have no known vehicles associated with them anywhere in the city.

Gallery

Diablos. Leone family. Colombian Cartel. Triads. Yardies. Southside Hoods. Yakuza.