The FBI has announced the arrest of a top U.S.-based leader of the violent international gang Mara Salvatrucha, otherwise known as MS-13.
Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, a 24-year-old El Salvadoran illegal alien, is reportedly one of the top three leaders of the violent gang, which President Donald Trump has designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
FBI agents apprehended the gang leader during an operation in Woodbridge, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C., where he was found illegally in possession of guns, silencers, and additional illegal items, according to local news station Fox 5 DC.
The operation was directly supervised by FBI Director Kash Patel, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and two other senior Department of Justice (DOJ) officials, who watched from a tactical operations center nearby. The operation brought together federal, state, and local law enforcement in a task force that had prepared for the arrest for several weeks.
Speaking to Fox News after the arrest, Bondi explained that agents had “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 also posted about the arrest on X, writing: “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.”
She went on to vow that the “DOJ will not rest until we make America safe again.”
Trump also addressed the operation in a post on Truth Social congratulating Bondi, Patel, border czar Tom Homan, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem.
“Great job by Pam Bondi, @FBIDirectorKash, Tom HOMAN, and Kristi N, on the capture of MS13 leader – A big deal!” he wrote.
Bondi also held a press conference to announce the arrest.
“Early this morning, one of the top leaders of MS-13 was apprehended,” she told the media. “He was the leader for the East Coast, one of the top three in the entire country. Right here in Virginia, living half an hour outside of Washington, D.C. He is an illegal alien from El Salvador and he will not be living in our country much longer. He’s in custody this morning.”
“Everyone was working as a team and the most important thing: all of our agents were safe this morning, all of our law enforcement officers, and the bad guy is in jail. That’s what matters, that’s what happens. America is safer today because one of the top domestic terrorists in MS-13 is off the streets,” she added.
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