In this handout photo provided by the Salvadoran government, a close view of handcuffs placed on the hands of a newly admitted inmate allegedly linked to criminal organizations at CECOT on March 16, 2025 in Tecoluca, El Salvador. (Photo by Salvadoran Government via Getty Images)
OAN Staff James Meyers 8:54 AM – Thursday, March 27, 2025
U.S. authorities arrested the top MS-13 gang leader on the East Coast and one of the top three in America, the FBI announced on Thursday.
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Officials captured the 24-year-old suspect and illegal migrant in Woodbridge, Virginia, in a major Trump-backed operation.
“This is what happens when you let good cops be cops,” FBI Director Kash Patel told a press conference, following the arrest of the suspected terrorist, a 24-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador, on Thursday morning.
Kash speaks on 342 MS-13 members being arrested.
1 of which was a leader of the savage organization.
I can now confirm that earlier this morning, law enforcement personnel arrested a top MS-13 leader in Virginia.
Outstanding work from @AGPamBondi, our brave agents, @CBP, @GovernorVA, and our state and local partners.
This is a massive victory for a safer America.
Justice is…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) March 27, 2025
As of now, minor details have only been given about the operation, which involved the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Virginia State Police, and Prince William County Police Department.
BREAKING: 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
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) March 27, 2025
Attorney General Pam Bondi described the suspect as “the worst of the worst,” emphasizing that the arrest was part of the mission given to her by President Donald Trump.
“Arrests have increased 468% from the same period last year,” says @AGPamBondi after a top MS-13 gang leader and illegal immigrant was taken down in Virginia.
“We didn’t need new laws, as President Trump always says — we needed a new president.” pic.twitter.com/fvEWYzrIKo
“They executed a clean, safe operation and the bad guys in custody. And thanks to the FBI, we got one of the worst of the worst of the MS-13 off the streets this morning. Virginia and the country is a lot safer today,” Bondi told Fox News following the arrest.
“President Trump’s directive to me when I became Attorney General was to keep America safe, and make America safe again,” she said.
“We didn’t need new laws, as President Trump said, we needed a new President.”
The 47th president said in a post on social media, “Great job by Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Tom HOMAN, and Kristi N, on the capture of MS13 leader – A big deal!”
Meanwhile, the FBI has arrested three individuals on its top 10 most wanted list just in the past two months.
Additionally, the Trump administration has deported several top members of MS-13 to El Salvador for incarceration.
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