Gangs and organized crime groups are well studied in Latin America, but their intersections remain poorly understood. Traditionally, youth gangs are viewed as products of marginalization and urban socialization, while organized crime is seen as market-driven and profit-oriented. However, these distinctions are increasingly blurred, as the media, institutions, and communities often use terms such as maras, pandillas, bandas, and carteles, as if they were interchangeable, leading to policies that treat distinct groups as the same—often with ineffective or harmful outcomes. This chapter examines the boundaries between gangs and organized crime in Honduras and Colombia using interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic research. The authors argue that understanding how these groups connect—or remain separate—is essential for developing effective, evidence-based violence-reduction policies, especially amid Latin America’s growing punitive approach to crime. The comparison reveals key differences. In Honduras, gangs and organized crime groups rarely collaborate and have traditionally operated in distinct spaces; however, recent developments suggest emerging collaboration between members of these groups. In Colombia, youth gangs are often co-opted by organized crime. Furthermore, while both types of groups are currently involved in negotiations in Colombia, anti-gang efforts in Honduras primarily target street gangs, leaving organized crime largely unaddressed. These findings highlight the need for further empirical research on the groups' interactions and for nuanced definitions and policies that reflect the complex realities of crime in the region.