Government authorities mentioned they apprehended an individual. top national figure of the Mara Salvatrucha The MS-13 gang in Virginia, which is a criminal organization. President Donald Trump labeled as a terrorist group.
The Trump administration, including Attorney General Pam Bondi of the U.S.,
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and FBI Director Kash Pate, shared news of the arrest on social media Thursday.
“I am pleased to report that earlier today, our courageous law enforcement personnel carried out a successful mission resulting in the capture of an important MS-13 national leader,” Bondi stated on X. “The DOJ remains committed until we ensure America’s safety once more.”
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At a press briefing, Leavitt referred to the gang leader as a “highly volatile person” who was apprehended at a residence also housing five children.
The FBI, along with help from state and local law enforcement agencies, apprehended the 24-year-old suspect in Woodbridge, Virginia.
Fox News
It has been reported. Authorities have confirmed that the individual is one of the leading figures in the El Salvador-based MS-13 gang, but they have not disclosed the suspect’s identity.
This represents a huge win for a more secure America,” Patel stated on X after the arrest. “Justice is on its way.
Here’s what you should understand about the MS-13 gang.
MS-13 first emerged in Los Angeles, California.
MS-13 was founded in Los Angeles, California, and it reportedly has more than 10,000 members residing in the United States.
DOJ fact sheet
The street gang was established in the 1980s by Salvadoran migrants; however, its influence expanded quickly across Central America, particularly in El Salvador and Mexico, as well as within the U.S., after members were deported.
The report indicates that between 50,000 and 70,000 MS-13 members are primarily located in metropolitan regions within Central America or in places outside of this area that have significant populations from Central America.
National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) digital library
states. Despite being predominantly an urban phenomenon, the group has expanded into more rural regions like Long Island and North Carolina, with numbers continuing to rise in California, as mentioned in the 2018 report.
The report states, “MS-13 resembles a social organization rather than a purely criminal one because it prioritizes establishing an intimidating group identity over earning income from illegal activities.” It further explains, “This is a decentralized entity composed of various segments, lacking a singular head or management framework overseeing gang operations and actions.”
The document states that “violent behavior” lies at the heart of MS-13’s activities, making the gang a primary focus for law enforcement in the U.S. According to the findings, one of the key ways the group generates income is through violent extortion tactics.
Federal officials
designated MS-13 as a transnational criminal entity
, which the
FBI identifies
As an organization operating beyond country boundaries and involved in unlawful operations for financial gain, such as drug dealing, facilitating unauthorized migration, conducting human trafficking, washing dirty money, trading weapons illegally, running unregulated betting, extorting people, smuggling wildlife, committing cyber crimes, along with producing and distributing fake products.
Trump designates MS-13 as terrorist organization
On January 20, President Trump issued an executive order labeling eight Latin American cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations.” These groups include Tren de Aragua from Venezuela, MS-13 from El Salvador, and several others.
Members of MS-13 have faced accusations and convictions for prominent murders, abductions, and drug smuggling across the Americas, spanning locations such as Long Island, Washington, D.C., and California. In November 2024, a
A superseded indictment was made public in a Brooklyn federal courthouse.
For accusations related to killings reportedly orchestrated and carried out by top figures, members, and affiliates of MS-13.
“My office and our law enforcement collaborators have relentlessly strived to ensure accountability for MS-13 due to the unimaginable damage they’ve inflicted upon their targets and neighborhoods. The recent indictments underscore that we won’t let up in pursuing those liable, regardless of elapsed time or MS-13’s ineffective efforts to remain hidden,” stated U.S. Attorney Breon Peace last November. “This latest charge further undermines MS-13’s command structure and exemplifies our commitment to dismantling this organization entirely.”
In the early stages of President Trump’s term, MS-13 frequently came up as a key element in his administration’s efforts to enforce stricter immigration policies. This focus was notably aimed at curbing migration from Central America and challenging so-called “sanctuary cities,” where local authorities refrained from cooperating fully with federal immigration officials.
Trump frequently referred to the supposed gang members as ”
animals
In 2020, more than a dozen MS-13 members faced indictment for terrorism offenses linked to their suspected participation in organized criminal activities across the U.S., Mexico, and El Salvador throughout the last twenty years.
El Salvador experienced an all-time low in homicide rates as part of their battle against MS-13 and other criminal organizations.
As MS-13 members face prosecution in the U.S., both this gang and its LA-born adversary, the 18th Street Gang, have become central targets in El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele’s efforts to combat violence within the nation. In pursuit of these goals, thousands of people across El Salvador have found themselves behind bars. This campaign against criminal organizations resulted in a historic minimum number of just 114 murders recorded throughout 2024.
Associated Press
reported.
Bukele stated that El Salvador experienced 1.9 murders for every 100,000 individuals, indicating that the nation has one of the lowest rates compared to any Latin American country in 2023, as reported by the AP.
Earlier this month, federal authorities dismissed charges against Cesar Lopez-Larios, a prominent MS-13 figure, allowing for his deportation to El Salvador under an agreement with Bukele.
The article initially appeared on USA TODAY:
The Trump administration apprehended the head of a leading violent street gang. Who is MS-13?
