MS-13 Leader Arrested in Virginia as Gang Crackdown Continues

President Donald Trump’s administration recently announced the capture of a national MS-13 gang leader in Virginia. 

The Department of Justice (DOJ) led the arrest, which featured a joint effort by the DOJ, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Virginia state authorities. 

Attorney General Pam Bondi proudly announced the arrest, which marks the Trump administration’s latest effort in a flurry of operations specifically targeting criminal organizations. 

“I’m proud to announce that early this morning our brave law enforcement officers conducted a successful operation that captured a top MS-13 national leader,” said Attorney General Bondi.  “DOJ will not rest until we make America safe again.”

According to the White House, the arrested individual was an illegal immigrant from El Salvador and one of the top three leaders of MS-13. 

MS-13 is a criminal organization founded in the US by Salvadorian migrants and is involved in illegal international vehicle, weapons, and narcotics sales.

FBI Director Kash Patel lauded law enforcement agents and President Trump’s leadership for enabling the arrest. 

“Thanks to the brave leadership of this administration and the folks that you see here, we are returning our communities to safety,” said Director Patel. 

The US government has been investigating and prosecuting MS-13 gang members for decades. 

In 2004, the FBI created the MS-13 National Gang Task Force (NGTF) to coordinate federal, state, and local investigations of MS-13. 

Notwithstanding such efforts, criminal gangs continue to operate in the US, and domestic criminal gang activity spiked during former President Joe Biden’s administration. 

Trump partly campaigned on eradicating criminal gang’s illicit conduct, and pushed for more aggressive prosecution of them shortly after becoming president, even designating some criminal organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).

The FTO designation expands financial sanctions against the cartels and authorizes the use of military force against them.

The groups designated are Tren de Aragua, MS-13, Cártel de Sinaloa, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Cártel del Noreste (formerly Los Zetas), La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Cártel de Golfo (Gulf Cartel), and Cárteles Unidos.