GTA 5 Story Mode is held together by groups that own neighborhoods, run fronts, and drag the protagonists into jobs. Street gangs fight over South Los Santos. Cartels, the Lost MC, and Trevor's own crew fight over Blaine County meth and arms. The FIB, IAA, and Merryweather sit on the later agency work, and the cults only show up if you go looking for them.
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Group type
Street Gangs
Families, Ballas, and Vagos neighborhood sets stay under those parent gangs instead of splitting into extra names.
Ballas
A purple Davis street gang that holds Grove Street and wars with The Families in Story Mode.
- Territory
- Davis, including Grove Street, Covenant Avenue, Brouge Avenue, and Davis Avenue
- Members
- D; Stretch (associate/betrayer)
- Rivals
- The Families
- Missions
- Chop; The Long Stretch; Hood Safari; Lamar Down; Rampage: Ballas
- Allies
- None named
- Story role
- Davis street gang that holds Grove Street and fights Franklin and Lamar through the South Los Santos story.
The Families
A green South Los Santos street gang whose Forum Drive set includes Franklin Clinton and Lamar Davis.
- Territory
- Chamberlain Hills, Strawberry, Forum Drive, Carson Avenue, and parts of Davis
- Members
- Franklin Clinton; Lamar Davis; Denise Clinton
- Rivals
- Ballas; Los Santos Vagos
- Missions
- Repossession; Chop; The Long Stretch; Hood Safari; Fresh Meat
- Allies
- None named
- Story role
- South Los Santos street gang that Franklin and Lamar come from, and the Ballas' main Story Mode rivals.
Los Santos Vagos
A yellow Rancho street gang that appears in Repossession when Franklin and Lamar repo a Vagos bike.
- Territory
- Rancho, including Jamestown Street and the Rancho Projects, plus Cypress Flats
- Members
- Esteban Jimenez
- Rivals
- The Families; Ballas; Varrios Los Aztecas
- Missions
- Repossession; Rampage: Vagos; Random Event: Gang Intimidation
- Allies
- None named
- Story role
- Mexican street gang that Franklin and Lamar shoot up while repoing Esteban Jimenez's bike in Repossession.
Varrios Los Aztecas
A turquoise Mexican street gang based around the Alamo Sea that attacks Trevor's Sandy Shores meth lab.
- Territory
- Northern Rancho and Blaine County around the Alamo Sea, including Ortega's trailer
- Members
- Ortega
- Rivals
- Trevor Philips Enterprises; Marabunta Grande; Los Santos Vagos
- Missions
- Mr. Philips; Trevor Philips Industries; Arms Trafficking Ground; Arms Trafficking Air
- Allies
- None named
- Story role
- Mexican street gang competing with Trevor over Blaine County weapons after he destroys Ortega's trailer.
Marabunta Grande
A Salvadoran El Burro Heights gang with no named Story Mode members that steals Michael's boat in Father/Son.
- Territory
- El Burro Heights and Vespucci Beach, with night activity in the East Vinewood drain
- Members
- No named Story Mode members
- Rivals
- Varrios Los Aztecas; Trevor Philips Enterprises
- Missions
- Father/Son; Arms Trafficking Ground; Arms Trafficking Air
- Allies
- None named
- Story role
- Salvadoran street gang that steals Michael's yacht in Father/Son and later fights Trevor's arms runs.
| Image | Name | Description | Territory | Members | Rivals | Missions | Allies | Story role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballas | A purple Davis street gang that holds Grove Street and wars with The Families in Story Mode. | Davis, including Grove Street, Covenant Avenue, Brouge Avenue, and Davis Avenue | D; Stretch (associate/betrayer) | The Families | Chop; The Long Stretch; Hood Safari; Lamar Down; Rampage: Ballas | None named | Davis street gang that holds Grove Street and fights Franklin and Lamar through the South Los Santos story. | |
| The Families | A green South Los Santos street gang whose Forum Drive set includes Franklin Clinton and Lamar Davis. | Chamberlain Hills, Strawberry, Forum Drive, Carson Avenue, and parts of Davis | Franklin Clinton; Lamar Davis; Denise Clinton | Ballas; Los Santos Vagos | Repossession; Chop; The Long Stretch; Hood Safari; Fresh Meat | None named | South Los Santos street gang that Franklin and Lamar come from, and the Ballas' main Story Mode rivals. | |
| Los Santos Vagos | A yellow Rancho street gang that appears in Repossession when Franklin and Lamar repo a Vagos bike. | Rancho, including Jamestown Street and the Rancho Projects, plus Cypress Flats | Esteban Jimenez | The Families; Ballas; Varrios Los Aztecas | Repossession; Rampage: Vagos; Random Event: Gang Intimidation | None named | Mexican street gang that Franklin and Lamar shoot up while repoing Esteban Jimenez's bike in Repossession. | |
| Varrios Los Aztecas | A turquoise Mexican street gang based around the Alamo Sea that attacks Trevor's Sandy Shores meth lab. | Northern Rancho and Blaine County around the Alamo Sea, including Ortega's trailer | Ortega | Trevor Philips Enterprises; Marabunta Grande; Los Santos Vagos | Mr. Philips; Trevor Philips Industries; Arms Trafficking Ground; Arms Trafficking Air | None named | Mexican street gang competing with Trevor over Blaine County weapons after he destroys Ortega's trailer. | |
| Marabunta Grande | A Salvadoran El Burro Heights gang with no named Story Mode members that steals Michael's boat in Father/Son. | El Burro Heights and Vespucci Beach, with night activity in the East Vinewood drain | No named Story Mode members | Varrios Los Aztecas; Trevor Philips Enterprises | Father/Son; Arms Trafficking Ground; Arms Trafficking Air | None named | Salvadoran street gang that steals Michael's yacht in Father/Son and later fights Trevor's arms runs. |
Group type
Criminal Organizations
Trevor Philips Enterprises is Trevor's Sandy Shores meth and arms crew with Ron, Chef, and Wade. It is not a GTA Online Organization.
Madrazo Cartel
Martin Madrazo's Mexican-American cartel based at La Fuente Blanca, drawn into the story after Michael wrecks his house.
- Territory
- La Fuente Blanca on Senora Road
- Members
- Martin Madrazo; Patricia Madrazo; Javier Madrazo
- Rivals
- Michael De Santa; Trevor Philips
- Missions
- Marriage Counseling; Caida Libre; Monkey Business
- Allies
- None named
- Story role
- Martin Madrazo's cartel that forces Michael to pay for a wrecked Vinewood Hills house, then hunts him and Trevor after Patricia is kidnapped.
Los Santos Triads
Wei Cheng's Chinese crime syndicate, a Story Mode antagonist group that moves on Trevor after partnering with the O'Neil Brothers.
- Territory
- Little Seoul, with the Raven Slaughterhouse in Cypress Flats as a front
- Members
- Wei Cheng; Tao Cheng; Tao Cheng's translator
- Rivals
- Trevor Philips Enterprises; Michael De Santa
- Missions
- Trevor Philips Industries; Crystal Maze; Bury the Hatchet; Fresh Meat
- Allies
- O'Neil Brothers
- Story role
- Wei Cheng's Chinese syndicate that drops Trevor for the O'Neils, then kidnaps Michael at the slaughterhouse.
The Lost MC
An outlaw motorcycle club in Stab City and East Vinewood that Trevor tears through after killing Johnny Klebitz.
- Territory
- Stab City in Blaine County, a Grapeseed front, and an East Vinewood clubhouse
- Members
- Johnny Klebitz; Ashley Butler; Terry Thorpe; Clay Simons
- Rivals
- Trevor Philips Enterprises
- Missions
- Mr. Philips; Nervous Ron; Friends Reunited
- Allies
- None named
- Story role
- Outlaw motorcycle club that Trevor wrecks in Blaine County while an East Vinewood chapter remains.
O'Neil Brothers
A Grapeseed meth-dealing family whose ranch lab Trevor destroys after they take his Triad deal.
- Territory
- O'Neil Ranch, Grapeseed, Blaine County
- Members
- Elwood O'Neil; Walton O'Neil; Wynn O'Neil
- Rivals
- Trevor Philips Enterprises
- Missions
- Crystal Maze; Predator
- Allies
- Los Santos Triads
- Story role
- Grapeseed meth family that takes the Triad contract from Trevor, then loses the ranch lab and the remaining brothers.
Trevor Philips Enterprises
Trevor Philips' Sandy Shores meth and arms crew, run with Ron, Chef, and Wade rather than a GTA Online Organization.
- Territory
- Sandy Shores, including the Ace Liquor meth lab and Sandy Shores Airfield
- Members
- Trevor Philips; Ron Jakowski; Chef; Wade Hebert
- Rivals
- The Lost MC; O'Neil Brothers; Varrios Los Aztecas; Los Santos Triads; Merryweather Security
- Missions
- Mr. Philips; Nervous Ron; Friends Reunited; Trevor Philips Industries; Crystal Maze
- Allies
- Michael De Santa; Franklin Clinton; Lester Crest
- Story role
- Trevor's Blaine County meth and arms crew, which fights the Lost, Aztecas, O'Neils, and Triads while the protagonists work Los Santos jobs.
| Image | Name | Description | Territory | Members | Rivals | Missions | Allies | Story role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madrazo Cartel | Martin Madrazo's Mexican-American cartel based at La Fuente Blanca, drawn into the story after Michael wrecks his house. | La Fuente Blanca on Senora Road | Martin Madrazo; Patricia Madrazo; Javier Madrazo | Michael De Santa; Trevor Philips | Marriage Counseling; Caida Libre; Monkey Business | None named | Martin Madrazo's cartel that forces Michael to pay for a wrecked Vinewood Hills house, then hunts him and Trevor after Patricia is kidnapped. | |
| Los Santos Triads | Wei Cheng's Chinese crime syndicate, a Story Mode antagonist group that moves on Trevor after partnering with the O'Neil Brothers. | Little Seoul, with the Raven Slaughterhouse in Cypress Flats as a front | Wei Cheng; Tao Cheng; Tao Cheng's translator | Trevor Philips Enterprises; Michael De Santa | Trevor Philips Industries; Crystal Maze; Bury the Hatchet; Fresh Meat | O'Neil Brothers | Wei Cheng's Chinese syndicate that drops Trevor for the O'Neils, then kidnaps Michael at the slaughterhouse. | |
| The Lost MC | An outlaw motorcycle club in Stab City and East Vinewood that Trevor tears through after killing Johnny Klebitz. | Stab City in Blaine County, a Grapeseed front, and an East Vinewood clubhouse | Johnny Klebitz; Ashley Butler; Terry Thorpe; Clay Simons | Trevor Philips Enterprises | Mr. Philips; Nervous Ron; Friends Reunited | None named | Outlaw motorcycle club that Trevor wrecks in Blaine County while an East Vinewood chapter remains. | |
| O'Neil Brothers | A Grapeseed meth-dealing family whose ranch lab Trevor destroys after they take his Triad deal. | O'Neil Ranch, Grapeseed, Blaine County | Elwood O'Neil; Walton O'Neil; Wynn O'Neil | Trevor Philips Enterprises | Crystal Maze; Predator | Los Santos Triads | Grapeseed meth family that takes the Triad contract from Trevor, then loses the ranch lab and the remaining brothers. | |
| Trevor Philips Enterprises | Trevor Philips' Sandy Shores meth and arms crew, run with Ron, Chef, and Wade rather than a GTA Online Organization. | Sandy Shores, including the Ace Liquor meth lab and Sandy Shores Airfield | Trevor Philips; Ron Jakowski; Chef; Wade Hebert | The Lost MC; O'Neil Brothers; Varrios Los Aztecas; Los Santos Triads; Merryweather Security | Mr. Philips; Nervous Ron; Friends Reunited; Trevor Philips Industries; Crystal Maze | Michael De Santa; Franklin Clinton; Lester Crest | Trevor's Blaine County meth and arms crew, which fights the Lost, Aztecas, O'Neils, and Triads while the protagonists work Los Santos jobs. |
Group type
Agencies and Private Military
The story factions here are the FIB, the IAA, and Merryweather. LSPD, the sheriff, NOOSE, and the military handle wanted levels instead.
Federal Investigation Bureau
The federal agency run in Story Mode by Steve Haines and Dave Norton, using the protagonists against the IAA.
- Territory
- FIB Headquarters, Pillbox Hill, Los Santos
- Members
- Steve Haines; Dave Norton; Andreas Sanchez
- Rivals
- International Affairs Agency
- Missions
- Dead Man Walking; Three's Company; By the Book; Blitz Play; Paleto Score Setup; Monkey Business; Cleaning out the Bureau; The Bureau Raid; The Wrap Up; Lamar Down
- Allies
- Michael De Santa; Trevor Philips; Franklin Clinton
- Story role
- Corrupt federal handlers who hire the protagonists to raid the IAA and later the FIB building itself.
International Affairs Agency
A federal intelligence agency based in Pillbox Hill that battles the FIB for funding throughout the Story Mode agency plot.
- Territory
- IAA Headquarters, Pillbox Hill, Los Santos
- Members
- Karen Daniels; Bernard
- Rivals
- Federal Investigation Bureau
- Missions
- Dead Man Walking; Three's Company; Blitz Play; Monkey Business; The Bureau Raid; The Wrap Up
- Allies
- None named
- Story role
- Intelligence agency that fights the FIB over funding, holds Ferdinand Kerimov, and storms the Kortz Center.
Merryweather Security
A private military company at the Los Santos Naval Port that the protagonists raid throughout Story Mode.
- Territory
- Los Santos Naval Port, Elysian Island
- Members
- Don Percival; Devin Weston (shareholder)
- Rivals
- Trevor Philips; Michael De Santa; Franklin Clinton
- Missions
- Scouting the Port; The Merryweather Heist; Minor Turbulence; Derailed; Monkey Business; The Wrap Up; Meltdown; The Big Score
- Allies
- Devin Weston
- Story role
- Private military contractor that the protagonists rob and fight across port, air, rail, and downtown jobs.
| Image | Name | Description | Territory | Members | Rivals | Missions | Allies | Story role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Investigation Bureau | The federal agency run in Story Mode by Steve Haines and Dave Norton, using the protagonists against the IAA. | FIB Headquarters, Pillbox Hill, Los Santos | Steve Haines; Dave Norton; Andreas Sanchez | International Affairs Agency | Dead Man Walking; Three's Company; By the Book; Blitz Play; Paleto Score Setup; Monkey Business; Cleaning out the Bureau; The Bureau Raid; The Wrap Up; Lamar Down | Michael De Santa; Trevor Philips; Franklin Clinton | Corrupt federal handlers who hire the protagonists to raid the IAA and later the FIB building itself. | |
| International Affairs Agency | A federal intelligence agency based in Pillbox Hill that battles the FIB for funding throughout the Story Mode agency plot. | IAA Headquarters, Pillbox Hill, Los Santos | Karen Daniels; Bernard | Federal Investigation Bureau | Dead Man Walking; Three's Company; Blitz Play; Monkey Business; The Bureau Raid; The Wrap Up | None named | Intelligence agency that fights the FIB over funding, holds Ferdinand Kerimov, and storms the Kortz Center. | |
| Merryweather Security | A private military company at the Los Santos Naval Port that the protagonists raid throughout Story Mode. | Los Santos Naval Port, Elysian Island | Don Percival; Devin Weston (shareholder) | Trevor Philips; Michael De Santa; Franklin Clinton | Scouting the Port; The Merryweather Heist; Minor Turbulence; Derailed; Monkey Business; The Wrap Up; Meltdown; The Big Score | Devin Weston | Private military contractor that the protagonists rob and fight across port, air, rail, and downtown jobs. |
Group type
Cults
These are the cults as groups. The Epsilon tract hunt and the Altruist hitchhiker deliveries are separate side work.
Epsilon Program
Cris Formage's Rockford Hills cult, the group behind Michael's Epsilon Strangers and Freaks missions.
- Territory
- Epsilon Center on Spanish Avenue, Rockford Hills
- Members
- Cris Formage; Marnie Allen; Tom; Jimmy Boston
- Rivals
- None named
- Missions
- Seeking the Truth; Accepting the Truth; Assuming the Truth; Chasing the Truth; Bearing the Truth; Delivering the Truth; Exercising the Truth; Unknowing the Truth
- Allies
- None named
- Story role
- Rockford Hills cult that runs Michael's optional truth-mission chain after he takes the Epsilon website survey.
Altruist Cult
A Chiliad Mountain baby-boomer cult with no named members that pays Trevor for hitchhikers until the camp shootout.
- Territory
- Altruist Camp in the Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness
- Members
- No named Story Mode members
- Rivals
- None named
- Missions
- Hitchhiker random-event deliveries; Altruist Cult Shootout; Rogue Altruists
- Allies
- Trevor Philips
- Story role
- Chiliad Mountain cult that pays Trevor for delivered hitchhikers until the camp shootout.
| Image | Name | Description | Territory | Members | Rivals | Missions | Allies | Story role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epsilon Program | Cris Formage's Rockford Hills cult, the group behind Michael's Epsilon Strangers and Freaks missions. | Epsilon Center on Spanish Avenue, Rockford Hills | Cris Formage; Marnie Allen; Tom; Jimmy Boston | None named | Seeking the Truth; Accepting the Truth; Assuming the Truth; Chasing the Truth; Bearing the Truth; Delivering the Truth; Exercising the Truth; Unknowing the Truth | None named | Rockford Hills cult that runs Michael's optional truth-mission chain after he takes the Epsilon website survey. | |
| Altruist Cult | A Chiliad Mountain baby-boomer cult with no named members that pays Trevor for hitchhikers until the camp shootout. | Altruist Camp in the Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness | No named Story Mode members | None named | Hitchhiker random-event deliveries; Altruist Cult Shootout; Rogue Altruists | Trevor Philips | Chiliad Mountain cult that pays Trevor for delivered hitchhikers until the camp shootout. |
How turf works in Story Mode
Territory is the neighborhood, front, or headquarters a group uses in Story Mode. South Los Santos is the street-gang map: Davis for the Ballas, Chamberlain Hills and Forum Drive for The Families, Rancho for the Vagos and Aztecas, and El Burro Heights for Marabunta Grande.
Grove Street is Ballas turf in this game. The Families still hold Chamberlain Hills, Strawberry, Forum Drive, and Carson Avenue, but the old Grove Street claim is gone.
Blaine County is a different fight. Trevor's Sandy Shores crew, the Lost MC in Stab City, the O'Neil ranch in Grapeseed, and Ortega's Aztecas around the Alamo Sea collide over meth and weapons. A named headquarters can matter more than a color. Madrazo sits at La Fuente Blanca, the Triads use Little Seoul and the Raven Slaughterhouse, Merryweather works the naval port, and the FIB and IAA occupy neighboring Pillbox Hill towers.
Story jobs versus street colors
Some groups drive whole stretches of the story. The Families and Ballas pull Franklin into South Los Santos jobs. The Madrazo Cartel, Los Santos Triads, Lost MC, and O'Neil Brothers are antagonist crews you hit on named missions. The FIB hires the protagonists against the IAA, then against the FIB building itself.
Other groups appear once and still matter. The Vagos show up when Franklin and Lamar repo a bike in Repossession. Marabunta Grande steals Michael's yacht in Father/Son. You will still see their colors in free roam, but the story only names a few of those fights.
Named members can be thin
The members line is a short Story Mode name list, not a second character roster. Franklin, Lamar, Stretch, Martin Madrazo, Wei Cheng, Johnny Klebitz, Steve Haines, and Cris Formage appear here as group people.
Some gangs barely introduce anyone. The Vagos only name Esteban Jimenez. Marabunta Grande and the Altruist Cult have no named Story Mode members at all. That does not make the group unused. It means the game treats them as a set of peds and a mission, not a crew of speaking characters.
If allies or rivals are listed as none named, the group can still shoot someone on a mission. The relationship just does not get a named partner.
Common mistakes
- Do not mix GTA Online crews, Motorcycle Clubs, Organizations, or later member lists into these Story Mode groups.
- Grove Street is Ballas turf here. Do not treat it as current Families territory.
- A missing named member does not mean the gang is unused. Check the missions line.
- A colored ped in free roam is not automatically a named story crew.
FAQ
Does this include GTA Online crews and Motorcycle Clubs?
No. It covers GTA 5 Story Mode groups. GTA Online crews, Motorcycle Clubs, and Organizations stay out.
If a gang has no named members, can I still run into them?
Yes. Named members are optional. Marabunta Grande still steals the yacht in Father/Son, and the Altruists still take hitchhiker deliveries. Territory and missions are the proof the group appears.
Are the FIB and IAA gangs?
No. They are Story Mode factions: corrupt federal handlers and a rival intelligence agency. They belong here because they have named agents, headquarters, rivals, and mission lists, not because they hold street corners.
Is The Lost MC gone after Trevor's Blaine County missions?
No. Trevor wrecks the Stab City chapter in Blaine County. An East Vinewood clubhouse remains.
Is Stretch in The Families?
No. Franklin, Lamar, and Denise Clinton are the Families names. Stretch sits with the Ballas as an associate and betrayer.
Does the Epsilon Program change the main story?
No. It is an optional Strangers and Freaks chain that starts after Michael takes the Epsilon website survey. The main story does not require it.