Legislator says 704 gangs prey on Mexico City

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Mexico City residents have long known their city was awash in gangs, but a local legislator has finally tried to quantify the problem.

Some 704 gangs with 18,067 members operate in Mexico's capital, estimates Soto Camacho, vice president of the city legislature's Public Safety Commission. He did not cite sources for his figures, local media said this week.With names like "The Travoltas," "The Cats" and "Los Jardineros" -- or "The Gardeners" -- one-tenth of the gangs operate out of high schools and universities preying on fellow students.