The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations arrested a suspected member of the violent MS-13 gang on Wednesday.
Orlando Rizo-Perez was charged with narcotics trafficking and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime, charges out of the Western District of Virginia.
“Mara Salvatrucha, commonly known as MS-13, is an international criminal gang and terrorist organization that originated in Los Angeles, California in the 1980s,” the sheriff’s office explained. “Originally, the gang was set up to protect Salvadoran immigrants from other gangs in the Los Angeles area. Over time, the gang grew into a more traditional criminal organization.”
A joint operation led to the arrest of Rizo-Perez, who is currently in the United States illegally.
Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch told 1819 News there are possibly more MS-13 gang members in the county.
Sheriff of neighboring Baldwin County, Anthony Lowery, previously said there are signs of MS-13 gang activity there as well.
President Donald Trump has declared MS-13 and other drug cartels and transnational gangs are officially terrorist organizations.
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