BREAKING: Kash Patel announces extradition of alleged MS-13 leader from Mexico to US to 'face American justice'

FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Tuesday that one of the "Ten Most Wanted," who is believed to be a key leader of the violent MS-13 gang, is being extradited from Mexico to the US to "face American justice."

"BREAKING: I can now confirm that last night, working with [the Department of Justice] and other interagency partners, the FBI has extradited one of our 'Ten Most Wanted' from Mexico — one we believe to be a key senior leader of MS-13, Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales," Patel wrote. "He was arrested in Mexico and is being transported within the US as we speak, where he will face American justice. This is a major victory both for our law enforcement partners and for a safer America. Thank you to our brave personnel for executing the mission. And thank you to Mexico’s SSPC and FGE teams for their support of the FBI in this investigation and arrest."

An FBI bulletin on Roman-Bardales stated that he "is wanted for his alleged involvement in the direction of MS-13 activity in the United States, Mexico, and El Salvador. He is alleged to be a senior leader of MS-13. Roman-Bardales has been charged with several offenses for his alleged role in ordering numerous acts of violence against civilians and rival gang members, as well as his role in drug distribution and extortion schemes in the United States and El Salvador."

"A federal arrest warrant was issued for Roman-Bardales in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, Central Islip, New York, on September 22, 2022, after he was charged with Conspiracy to Provide and Conceal Material Support and Resources to Terrorists; Narco-Terrorism Conspiracy; Racketeering Conspiracy; and Alien Smuggling Conspiracy," the bulletin added.
 

Authorities said that Román-Bardales was arrested on the Teocelo-Baxtla highway in Veracruz. A joint statement from the Attorney General, the Ministry of National Defense, and the National Guard said, "He was informed of the reason for his arrest, his legal rights were read to him, and he will be transferred to Mexico City, before the corresponding authority, and subsequently deported to the United States, where he is wanted," per CNN.

In February, the Department of State officially designated Mexican cartels and violent foreign gans, like Tren de Aragua and MS-13, as Global Terrorist Organizations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in the notice that these groups pose a serious risk to US national security, foreign policy, and economic interests, writing that they "have committed or have attempted to commit, pose a significant risk of committing, or have participated in training to commit acts of terrorism that threaten the security of United States nationals or the national security."

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