For the gang in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, see Varrios Los Aztecas (3D Universe).
The Varrios Los Aztecas, also known as VLA or simply Aztecas, are a relatively small Mexican street gang featured in Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online.
History[]
Aztecas is Spanish for Aztecs, who were an ancient civilization/people.
Unlike the Vagos and the Marabunta Grande, the Aztecas have some older members that appear to be in their 50's or 60's. This indicates the possibility that the Aztecas are a multi-generational gang that have been around for a while. This is not uncommon in Los Angeles, as there are Mexican street gangs such as White Fence and Clanton 14 that have been around since the 1930s.
They have links to the cartels and are currently at a war with rival Salvadorian gang Marabunta Grande over the drug trade, drug trafficking, supply routes, and weapons smuggling in the Senora Desert region and parts of Los Santos. Weazel News also reported that there was a recent shootout between the two gangs in the Grand Senora Desert. The Aztecas have also been known to be heavily involved in arms dealing.
Events of Grand Theft Auto Online in 2013[]
They make an appearance in GTA Online: Further Adventures in Finance and Felony through SecuroServ cargo shipments available to players of CEO status. They are frequent adversaries and are known to steal shipments of goods intended for the player's Organization.
They later appear as a rival gang for the Motorcycle Clubs in Biker missions.
Events of Grand Theft Auto V[]
They are first mentioned in GTA V in a internet news article from The Senora Beacon after the mission The Long Stretch, the article mentions they using the Alamo Sea as their base of operations and the fact that they were forced to leave Los Santos because of their war with the Vagos.
In the storyline, the VLA are in competition with Trevor Philips Enterprises over the weapons trade in Blaine County. After Trevor Philips destroys Ortega's trailer, the VLA decide to take him down. Several VLA members attack the Sandy Shores meth lab, but end up defeated.
The Aztecas also appear in Trevor's arms smuggling side mission. During the air missions, they appear in just one mission, where they are reunited in four different groups across Blaine County and need to be destroyed by Trevor using bombs dropped by a plane. During the land missions, they appear in a mission in which they try to pick up an arms package before Trevor.
An Azteca mugs a woman at the ATM during a random event in West Vinewood.
Events of Grand Theft Auto Online[]
The Contract[]
The Aztecas make a minor appearance in The Contract update in Grand Theft Auto Online. In 2021, during a South Central Leak investigation mission, Vernon from The Families asks the GTA Online Protagonist to help him and his gang interrupt a meth deal between The Lost MC and the Aztecas, before he helps with Dr. Dre's stolen phone information.
Territory[]
Varrios Los Aztecas members can be found in their territory east of Central Los Santos Hospital around Northern Rancho. Probably, they are at war with the North Side Vagos set in the northern part of Rancho, due to the proximity of the territories. They also have territory on Blaine County, with their headquarters being the Alamo Sea. Many Aztecas drive vehicles and members are seen standing on the sidewalks in groups of 3-5. Sometimes, Aztecas will rarely spawn and be replaced by Los Santos Vagos. To prevent this, try approaching Rancho from the north instead of the south.
Gang Appearance[]
Aztecas can be easily identified by their light teal/turquoise coloured cholo-style clothing. Their weapons of choice include Pistols, Micro-SMGs, SMGs, and knives. Even though they dress similarly to some members of the Marabunta Grande, Aztecas do not sport face tattoos unlike their rivals.
Influence[]
It is likely that the Aztecas are based on various Chicano gangs such as the Florencia13 due to their location – Northern Rancho – which is based on Florence, as well as Varrio Nuevo Estrada given their name. Their long-running rivalry with the Vagos is similar to the rivalry between Clanton 14 and Barrio 18 due to the fact that the former did not let Central Americans into their gang which resulted to the creation of the latter and their bloody rivalry. Despite this, the Aztecas are likely based on the South and East Los Angeles-based 18th Street gang, due to both gangs repping blue: turquoise for Aztecas and navy blue for 18th Street. Along with 18th Street's historic and bloody beef with MS-13, likely being the influence for the Azteca-Marabunta Grande beef, which is said to have been long running as well, 18th Street also have beef with Sureño gangs, such as Florencia 13 and 38th Street, which is likely the influence for the Azteca-Vagos rivalry, as the Vagos are based on the Sureños.
Prominent Appearances in Gameplay[]
Grand Theft Auto V[]
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
- SecuroServ - Four Special Cargo Steal Missions
- SecuroServ - Vehicle Cargo
- Two Business Supplies Steal Missions
- Collect a Worker (possible enemies)
- Competitor Riders (possible enemies)
Los Santos Drug Wars[]
- Two Street Dealers
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Various VLA members re-use models and quotes from Vagos; therefore, they may yell "LSV" (short for Los Santos Vagos) during combat.