An alleged senior leader of the notorious MS-13 gang who appeared on the FBI's "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list has been captured and brought to American soil.
According to Fox News, Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales was arrested Monday in Mexico's Veracruz state mountains by Mexican authorities and is now being transported to the United States to face criminal charges.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the extradition Tuesday, describing it as a "major victory both for our law enforcement partners and for a safer America." The FBI had previously offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to Bardales' capture.
Roman-Bardales faces multiple charges in the Eastern District of New York related to ordering violence against civilians and rival gang members, as well as involvement in drug distribution and extortion operations in both the United States and El Salvador.
Patel thanked Mexico's SSPC and FGE teams for their support in the investigation and arrest. The successful capture represents the latest development in strengthened security cooperation between the United States and Mexico under President Trump's administration.
MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, was one of eight Latin American criminal organizations recently designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump administration.
The designation, announced last month, gives authorities expanded powers to combat these groups and their activities.
Patel said in his statement:
I can now confirm that last night, working with the Justice Department 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.
Roman-Bardales' extradition comes amid heightened cooperation between U.S. and Mexican authorities on security matters.
In late February, Mexican authorities extradited another drug cartel member, Jesus Ricardo Patron Sanchez, to face charges in New York City related to drug trafficking for the H-2 cartel. Just weeks ago, Mexico handed over 29 drug cartel figures, including Rafael Caro Quintero, who was allegedly responsible for killing a DEA agent in 1985.
President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has worked to demonstrate to President Trump that Mexico is a reliable partner on security and immigration issues, which has thus far prevented most of Trump's threatened tariffs. The Trump administration also recently deported two other top MS-13 members to El Salvador, along with hundreds of Venezuelan nationals, as part of broader immigration enforcement efforts.
Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, now in U.S. custody, represents a significant capture in the ongoing fight against transnational criminal organizations.
The arrest occurred as U.S. officials describe the country as facing "the most dangerous and deadly drug crisis" in its history, with fentanyl and methamphetamine flowing across the southern border, primarily trafficked by cartels. The extradition marks another step in the Trump administration's aggressive approach to combating gang violence, particularly from MS-13, which has been linked to numerous violent crimes throughout the United States.
