The FBI has commended Mexican authorities for the arrest and handover of Francisco Javier Román Bardales, a senior leader of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang, to U.S. authorities. Bardales, one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted suspects, was apprehended on Monday in Veracruz, Mexico, following a joint operation by Mexican soldiers and federal agents.
FBI Director Kash Patel hailed the arrest as a significant success, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in combatting organized crime. “This is a major victory for our law enforcement partners and for a safer America,” Patel stated via X (formerly Twitter).
Bardales, a prominent figure within MS-13, faces serious charges related to violent crime, drug trafficking, and extortion in the Eastern District of New York. The gang, known for its brutal tactics, was recently classified by the U.S. government as a foreign terrorist organization, underscoring the threat it poses.
Mexico’s Security Chief Omar García Harfuch also praised the arrest, noting that it was the result of international cooperation. The transfer of Bardales to the United States follows a growing trend of Mexico’s cooperation with U.S. law enforcement. Just weeks earlier, Mexico handed over 29 cartel figures, including notorious drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero, responsible for the 1985 killing of a U.S. DEA agent.
The recent arrests are part of Mexico’s broader crackdown on criminal organizations, including operations targeting the Sinaloa cartel, a major trafficker of fentanyl to the U.S. These efforts align with Mexico’s commitment to enhancing security cooperation with the U.S. government, particularly as President Claudia Sheinbaum works to reinforce Mexico’s role as a reliable security partner.
This arrest underscores the ongoing international battle against organized crime and highlights the importance of cross-border collaboration in tackling violent gangs and drug trafficking.
