U.S. authorities detain top MS-13 figure in Virginia, DOJ confirms

28 March 2025 , 12:12

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U.S. authorities detain top MS-13 figure in Virginia, DOJ confirms

U.S. authorities have arrested a high-ranking MS-13 leader in Virginia, identifying him as one of the gang’s top three figures managing East Coast operations.

Law enforcement in the United States has arrested a man they believe to be amongst the top three leaders of the notorious MS-13 gang, who has been overseeing the criminal organization’s East Coast operations, Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced Thursday.

The 24-year-old suspect, who was in the country illegally, was taken into custody in Prince William County, Northern Virginia.

“The bad guy is in jail,” Bondi said in a live statement broadcast by the Department of Justice.

MS-13, or Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational criminal organization known for its brutal tactics, including extortion, drug trafficking, and violent attacks. Originating in Los Angeles in the 1980s among Salvadoran immigrants, the gang has since expanded throughout Central America and the United States, becoming a major target of law enforcement agencies.

The administration of President Donald Trump declared MS-13 a foreign terrorist organization last month.

Federal authorities have not yet released the Virginia suspect’s name or additional details on pending charges.

David Wilson

Politics Editor