(TheIndependentStar.com) – Being on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, Mexican authorities captured Francisco Javier Román-Bardales, a notorious MS-13 gang leader wanted for terrorism and alien smuggling.
The Salvadoran criminal, also known as “Veterano de Tribus,” was captured on a highway in Mexico and will be deported to face U.S. justice.
His arrest highlights the ongoing border security crisis as dangerous criminals continue exploiting America’s vulnerable southern frontier.
Mexican officials apprehended Román-Bardales on the Teocelo-Baxtla highway in Veracruz following an intensive surveillance operation.
Multiple Mexican agencies, including the Defense Ministry, Navy, Attorney General’s Office, National Guard, and Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, announced the arrest in a joint statement.
Román-Bardales faces serious charges in the United States, including conspiracy to support terrorists, narco-terrorism, racketeering, and alien smuggling.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for him in September 2022 in the Eastern District of New York, with authorities offering a $250,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
The MS-13 gang, which originated in Los Angeles in the mid-80s among Salvadoran aliens fleeing civil war, has been designated as a terrorist organization by the Trump administration.
This dangerous criminal enterprise has been responsible for countless acts of violence, drug distribution, and extortion across the United States, Mexico, and El Salvador.
Moreover, Mexican authorities have committed to transferring Román-Bardales to Mexico City before deporting him to the United States to face justice.
The arrest follows Mexico’s recent transfer of 29 alleged drug cartel suspects to the U.S., potentially signaling increased cooperation between the two countries on border security matters.
The timing of this arrest comes as Americans grow increasingly concerned about the porosity of the southern border and the entry of dangerous criminals into communities.
While this capture represents a victory for law enforcement, it also raises questions about how many other dangerous MS-13 members may have already entered the country undetected during the current administration’s border crisis.
Mexican officials stated that the operation was part of their efforts “aimed at capturing individuals responsible for generating violence.”
Ultimately, the successful arrest demonstrates that dangerous criminals like Román-Bardales can be brought to justice with proper resources, determination, and cooperation.
It also underscores the critical importance of strong border security and immigration enforcement to protect American communities from violent transnational gangs.
Copyright 2025, TheIndependentStar.com
