In a major operation Thursday, the Donald Trump administration nabbed an illegal migrant who is the kingpin of the notorious gang MS-13. Donald Trump praised FBI director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi for leading the operation with the ICE, ATF and the Virginia State Police. Prince William County Police Department was also a part of the major operation. The kingpin has not been named but is believed to be a 24-year-old illegal immigrant from El Salvador. Describing the suspect as “the worst of the worst,” AG Bondi reiterated that the arrest was part of the mission given to her by President Trump.
“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.”
“This is what happens when you let good cops be cops,” FBI Director Kash Patel told a press conference.
What is MS-13?
MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, is a transnational criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles, California, in the 1980s. It was initially formed by Salvadoran immigrants, many of whom were fleeing the civil war in El Salvador. Over time, MS-13 evolved into a highly organized and violent criminal organization involved in activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion, and murder. The gang has a significant presence in the United States, Central America (particularly El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala), and other parts of the world. It is known for its brutal tactics, including machete attacks and a hierarchical structure with “cliques” operating under regional or national leadership.
MS-13 does not have a single, universally recognized “top leader” due to its decentralized structure. However, significant arrests of high-ranking members have occurred over the years. One notable figure is Edwin “Manica” Morales, who was considered a senior leader in the gang’s “Ranfla Nacional” (national leadership council) in El Salvador. Morales was arrested as part of a major crackdown by Salvadoran authorities under President Nayib Bukele’s anti-gang campaign. In 2022 and 2023, thousands of MS-13 members were rounded up, and Morales was among the key figures detained. Another prominent arrest was Freddy Ivan Jandres-Parada, alias “Lucky,” a member of the gang’s “Twelve Apostles of Satan” leadership group, who was captured in El Salvador in December 2023 after being indicted by U.S. authorities for racketeering and drug trafficking conspiracies.
