Mali Boys

Summary

The Mali Boys, also known as MaliStrip or Mali Strip, are an organised street gang based in Leyton and Walthamstow, East London, particularly the postcodes E10 and E17. They are known to control the drug trade in the area with violence. In 2019, they were reported to have around 40-50 members and were reported to be responsible for hundreds of violent attacks and a number of killings, leading to the gang's reputation for extreme violence. The gang is named after Somalis, however, the gang is ethnically diverse, though it is predominantly male. In a report commissioned by the local Waltham Forest council, the gang was described as "the most business driven, violent and ruthless" street gang in Waltham Forest. Unlike many other street gangs, the Mali Boys are not active on social media and seek anonymity, though it has been reported they use Facebook to monitor police officials. The gang has connections with other organised crime groups in London, and operates county lines drug networks. The gang is involved in criminal child exploitation and the grooming of young children.