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In a major blow to the violent transnational gang MS‑13, U.S. federal and state authorities have arrested one of the group’s top three leaders operating on the East Coast. The 24-year-old suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, was taken into custody without incident in Woodbridge, Virginia. The arrest was closely monitored by Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and other senior officials from a tactical command center nearby.
MS‑13, originally formed by Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles, has become notorious for brutal crimes including homicide, extortion, and drug trafficking. Its structure is decentralized, with local “cliques” reporting to regional leaders. The man arrested is believed to be the East Coast commander—one of the gang’s most powerful figures in the U.S.
The operation was the result of weeks of intelligence gathering and interagency coordination. FBI and Homeland Security officials tracked the suspect’s movements and associations, culminating in a well-planned, pre-dawn raid executed by SWAT teams. No shots were fired. Seized evidence will now be used to support federal charges.
At a press conference, Bondi highlighted the success of the mission, crediting President Trump’s law-and-order policies and vowing continued efforts to remove violent gang members. “We have taken one of the worst of the worst off the streets,” she said. FBI Director Patel echoed that sentiment, adding, “If you continue to commit violent crimes, you will meet the same fate.”
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin also praised the operation, pointing to strong state-federal cooperation and recent efforts to expand immigration enforcement capabilities. Over 340 arrests linked to gang and violent crime activity have taken place in Northern Virginia over the past month alone.
Legal proceedings are now underway. The suspect is expected to face RICO charges and immigration violations, with federal prosecutors seeking pretrial detention. Authorities say this operation sends a clear message to other gang leaders: no one is beyond the reach of U.S. law enforcement.
The arrest marks a turning point in the national campaign to dismantle MS‑13’s leadership, reinforcing a broader push to combine aggressive enforcement with community-based strategies to address the roots of gang violence.
