Gangs in Liberty City claim districts with clothing, vehicle, and weapon choices that change who is hostile and who offers missions as the story advances.
Role
Major Gangs
Major Gangs entries and their turf, look, and specialty within the game world.
Leone Family (aka the Mafia)
Led by Salvatore Leone, the Leone Crime Family is an Italian mafia that has been a force in Liberty City longer than any other gang. They are based in Portland, 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 since 1999 they saw their influence greatly reduced. They have a fierce rivalry with the Triads. They become hostile towards Claude after he kills their leader Salvatore Leone under orders of Yakuza leader Asuka Kasen in the mission Sayonara Salvatore.
- Role
- Major Gangs
- Territory
- Saint Mark's; Red Light District
- District
- Portland
- Leader
- Salvatore Leone
- Specialty
- Mafia
- Gang color
- Black
Triads
The Triads are a Chinese criminal organization that arrived in the city in 1997, with help from the Sicilian Mafia. They control the Chinatown and the Callahan Point areas of Portland and are the enemies of the Leone Family. They become hostile to the player after the missions Trial By Fire or The Pick-Up.
- Role
- Major Gangs
- Territory
- Chinatown; Callahan Point
- District
- Portland
- Specialty
- Fish factory
- Gang color
- Blue
Diablos
The Diablos are a Latin American gang led by El Burro and based in Hepburn Heights, Portland. 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, and they continue to hold onto Hepburn Heights. They are arch rivals of the Uptown Yardies. They become hostile towards Claude after he commits a massacre of Diablo members under orders of Yardies leader King Courtney.
- Role
- Major Gangs
- Territory
- Hepburn Heights
- District
- Portland
- Specialty
- Street gang
- Gang color
- Red
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 are 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 (even though their territory is not reachable by normal means before the mission Last Requests is completed).
- Role
- Major Gangs
- Territory
- Fort Staunton; Cedar Grove
- District
- Staunton; Shoreside
- Leader
- Catalina; Miguel
- Specialty
- Drug cartel
- Gang color
- Grey
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 they 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 gangs divide their territories in Fort Staunton.
- Role
- Major Gangs
- Territory
- Torrington
- District
- Staunton
- Leader
- Asuka Kasen; Kenji Kasen
- Specialty
- Protection
- Gang color
- White
Uptown Yardies
The Uptown Yardies or simply the Yardies are an African-Caribbean (mostly Jamaican) 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 become hostile towards Claude after they ally to the Colombian Cartel and betray him in the mission Kingdom Come.
- Role
- Major Gangs
- Territory
- Newport
- District
- Staunton
- Leader
- King Courtney
- Specialty
- Drug trade
- Gang color
- Green
Southside Hoods
The Southside Hoods are an African-American street gang led by D-Ice and based in the poorer areas of Shoreside Vale (appearing more often in Wichita Gardens). They arrived in the city in 1998 and later conflicts in the gang began to show. Eventually, the gang split into two subdivisions, 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 continue to walk its turf on the streets.
- Role
- Major Gangs
- Territory
- Wichita Gardens
- District
- Shoreside
- Specialty
- Street gang
- Gang color
- Red
Role
Minor Gangs
Smaller or mission-tied crews that appear less often but still shape specific jobs or districts.
Forelli Brothers
The Forelli Brothers are the weakened remnant of the Forelli Crime Family in GTA III. Their influence fell after Sonny Forelli was killed in Vice City in 1986 and later losses in Liberty City; Mike Forelli appears in the GTA III mission Mike Lips Last Lunch.
- Role
- Minor Gangs
- Territory
- Saint Mark's
- District
- Portland
- Specialty
- Mafia
- Gang color
- Black
How gangs shape the map
Territory is the main clue. A gang that holds a district appears more often there, drives its favored cars through the streets, and posts members near mission givers or safe areas. Crossing a border can flip the crowd from neutral to hostile without any story trigger.
Colors and clothing confirm the faction before a weapon is drawn. Jackets, hats, and vehicle paint read faster than the minimap when traffic is dense or night has fallen.
Respect, missions, and hostility
Many entries in this era use a respect or loyalty system. Helping one gang can lower standing with its rivals and change which phones ring and which bosses trust you. That is why the same district can feel quiet in one chapter and tense in the next.
Mission ties matter when a job asks for a gang car or a specific neighborhood. Knowing which faction drives which vehicle saves a long search, especially where spawn points cluster near industrial yards, docks, or housing blocks.
Using the comparison fields
Leader, territory, district, gang color, symbol, gang car, and specialty stay together per row so you can compare factions at a glance. Specialty explains what the group does rather than where it parks, while territory and district explain where you will meet it. If a row shows no value for a field, that detail was not documented for this title rather than missing from the game.
FAQ
How do I tell gangs apart on the street?
Use clothing color, gang car, and district. A faction that favors a car or color in one neighborhood will repeat that pattern near its turf.
Why is a gang hostile without a mission trigger?
Territory and story progress decide hostility. Crossing into rival turf or advancing the story can flip a district from neutral to aggressive.
Do gangs affect available missions?
Yes. Boss phones and mission givers tie to specific crews, so respect or chapter progress changes who offers work and where the phone rings.
What does specialty tell me?
Specialty describes the crew business, such as narcotics, protection, arms, or political cover. It explains why a gang holds a particular district, how it looks and why it holds it.
Why are some fields blank?
A blank means that detail was not verifiable for this title. The row keeps the verified fields and leaves the rest empty rather than guessing.