HOUSTON – A top leader of the infamous international gang MS-13 was arrested at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on Sunday; delivering a significant blow to the criminal organization.
Authorities tell KPRC 2 that Cesar Humberto Lopez-Larios, known as one of the original “Twelve Apostles of the Devil,” was apprehended. This group expanded to 14 members, becoming known as the “Ranfla Nacional.” Over the past 20 years, MS-13 has been responsible for numerous crimes, including drug trafficking and murder.
Recommended Videos
How it happened
After being on the run for over three years, Lopez-Larios was finally captured when he landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on June 9, 2024.
The FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) collaborated on the arrest.
SEE ALSO: New DOJ initiative targets Houston’s most violent criminals
He faces several charges including providing support to terrorists, financing terrorism, and planning violent acts that crossed national borders. Lopez-Larios will be formally charged in New York at a later date.
“Now that Mr. Lopez-Larios is behind bars, he’s no longer in his alleged position of power directing a reign of terror, nor enriching MS-13 and their cartel associates,” FBI Acting Assistant Director-in-Charge Hawkins said in a statement. “The FBI will continue to collaborate with our partners to seek justice and to find the remaining fugitives of this vicious transnational criminal enterprise.”
The Twelve Apostles of the Devil and the “Ranfla Nacional”
The “Twelve Apostles of the Devil” refers to the founders and original leaders of MS-13. These individuals played a crucial role in shaping the gang’s structure, rules, and operations. Over time, as the gang grew more sophisticated and organized, the leadership structure evolved into what is now known as the “Ranfla Nacional.”
Under “Ranfla Nacional” leadership, MS-13 expanded its activities, including forming connections with Mexican drug cartels and engaging in human trafficking and smuggling.
According to the indictment, these leaders have orchestrated violent acts, established military training camps, and procured military-grade weapons. Their operations in the U.S. involved extortion, drug trafficking, and violent crimes, with profits funneled back to leaders in El Salvador. Lopez-Larios, a leader for more than two decades, played a crucial role in these operations, particularly in the Eastern District of New York, where MS-13 committed numerous murders and other crimes.
Currently, MS-13 operates with a hierarchical structure, with local cliques reporting up to regional leaders, who in turn coordinate with the national leadership. This structure allows the gang to manage its diverse criminal activities across several countries.
The transformation from the “Twelve Apostles of the Devil” to the “Ranfla Nacional” illustrates MS-13′s adaptation and growth as a major transnational criminal organization.
A Call for Help
Two other high-ranking MS-13 members, Jorge Alexander De La Cruz and Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, remain at large. The FBI and HSI are offering a $20,000 reward for any information leading to their capture to contact the authorities.