Washington: US authorities announced on Thursday that they have arrested the top leader of the MS-13 gang from the East Coast. The 24-year-old suspect was arrested in Woodbridge, Virginia, just south of Washington, DC. While officials have not released his name, they confirmed that he is one of the top three leaders of the MS-13 gang in the US.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel monitored the arrest from a nearby tactical operations center, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and senior DOJ official Emil Bove also in attendance.
“The operation was executed cleanly and safely, and the criminal is now in custody. Thanks to the FBI, we’ve removed one of the worst MS-13 members from the streets. Virginia and the nation are safer today,” Bondi told Fox News after the arrest.
Earlier this month, the US dropped charges against Cesar Lopez-Larios, another MS-13 leader, to facilitate his deportation to El Salvador as part of an agreement with President Nayib Bukele.
In 2020, over a dozen MS-13 members were indicted on terrorism charges for their alleged involvement in organized crime across the U.S., Mexico, and El Salvador over the past two decades.
“Just captured a major leader of MS13. Tom HOMAN is a superstar!” US President Donald Trump wrote on social media.
The operation saw the FBI collaborating with the Prince William County Police Department, ATF, ICE, and Virginia State Police. Patel commended law enforcement for executing a safe operation.
“This is what can happen when you put good cops in good places to take on bad guys. And America should be watching this. And we are proud to be here standing with these brave warriors,” Kash Patel said.
