Commonly known as MS-13, Mara Salvatrucha is an international criminal gang that originated in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is one of the rivals of 18th Street, another gang that started in Los Angeles.

Most MS-13 members are Salvadoran. After the end of the Salvadoran Civil War in 1992, many of them were deported to El Salvador.

On February 22, 2023, three MS-13 leaders were located by Mexican authorities and expelled from Mexico via the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations agents arrested them when they arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, USA.

On February 23, 2023, the three suspects had their initial appearances in the Southern District of Texas, pending removal to the Eastern District of New York. Here are their names:

1. Marlon Antonio Menjivar-Portillo (aka Rojo de Park View)
2. Vladimir Antonio Arevalo-Chavez (aka Vampiro de Monserrat Criminales)
3. Walter Yovani Hernandez-Rivera (aka Baxter de Park View, Bastard de Park View)

Also on February 23, 2023, a four-count indictment was unsealed in Central Islip, Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, USA. Including Menjivar-Portillo, Arevalo-Chavez and Hernandez-Rivera, 13 of the highest-ranking MS-13 leaders in the world were charged with directing the transnational criminal organization’s criminal activities in the U.S., El Salvador, Mexico and other countries over the past two decades.

Six of the defendants are believed to be in custody in El Salvador. Here are their names:

1. Carlos Tiberio Ramirez-Valladares (aka Snayder de Pasadena)
2. Dany Balmore Romero-Garcia (aka  Big Boy de Normandies, Dig Boy de Normandies, D Boy de Normandies)
3. Dany Fredy Ramos-Mejia (aka Cisco de Teclas)
4. Edwin Ernesto Cedillos-Rodriguez (aka Renuente de Abriles Dangers)
5. Miguel Angel Serrano-Medina (aka Cabro de Park View
6. Ruben Antonio Rosa-Lovo (aka Chivo de Centrales)

The remaining four other defendants remain at large. Here are their names:

1. Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales (also known as Veterano de Tribus)
2. Jorge Alexander De La Cruz (aka Cruger de Peatonales)
3. Jose Wilfredo Ayala-Alcantara (aka Indio de Hollywood)
4. Juan Antonio Martinez-Abrego (aka Mary Jane de Hollywood)