In a sweeping takedown that reverberated from the streets of Virginia to the highest levels of federal law enforcement, U.S. authorities have captured one of the top MS-13 gang leaders operating on the East Coast.
The FBI announced Thursday that the 24-year-old suspect—whose name remains under wraps for security and operational reasons—was apprehended in Woodbridge, Virginia, just a few miles south of Washington, D.C.
This wasn’t a run-of-the-mill arrest. It was the result of a multi-agency operation orchestrated with military precision. At the heart of it were elite teams from the FBI, ATF, ICE, Virginia State Police, and the Prince William County Police Department. Their mission? Clear, coordinated, and high-stakes: bring down one of the most dangerous gang figures currently operating on American soil.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel weren’t sitting behind desks during the operation. They were monitoring every heartbeat of the mission from a nearby tactical operations center. As the suspect was taken into custody without incident, Bondi described it as a “clean, safe operation” and declared, “Virginia and the country is a lot safer today.” That sentiment echoed far beyond the FBI’s walls.
Biden’s FBI and DOJ were raiding the home of Biden’s top political opponent and jailing pro-lifers.
Trump’s FBI and DOJ are doing pre-dawn raids and capturing MS-13 leaders.
They are not the same. pic.twitter.com/rompfRwS6X
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) March 27, 2025
President Donald Trump took to social media shortly after the news broke, offering his congratulations: “Great job by Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Tom HOMAN, and Kristi N, on the capture of MS13 leader – A big deal!”
Kash Patel added weight to the moment, stating, “This is what can happen when you put good cops in good places to take on bad guys.” His words weren’t just about this one arrest—they signaled a broader movement. One that’s gaining momentum.
Indeed, Thursday’s operation is just the latest in a broader campaign that’s seeing major wins. In the past two months, the FBI has captured three individuals from its Top 10 Most Wanted list. And under the Trump administration, a hardline strategy has led to the deportation of multiple top-level MS-13 figures back to El Salvador.
🚨FBI Director Kash Patel following the capture of Major MS-13 leader:
“This is what happens when you let good cops be cops and we’re going to continue to let good cops be cops across this country… We are returning our communities to safety.”
pic.twitter.com/Qfr4tWhpW7— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) March 27, 2025
While MS-13’s grip on American communities has long been a source of fear and violence, this arrest shines a spotlight on a coordinated federal push to dismantle the gang’s leadership, one takedown at a time. The message is clear: no matter where they hide, the net is tightening—and the U.S. isn’t backing down.
