FBI Director Kash Patel has unveiled his first major operation since taking charge of the bureau, resulting in the arrest of dozens of gang members, including high-ranking figures within the notorious MS-13 gang. The announcement was made on Monday night via Patel’s social media platform, X, where he shared the news of a successful mission executed by the FBI’s Virginia Homeland Security Taskforce. Patel stated, “Today, the FBI’s Virginia Homeland Security Taskforce arrested 39 individuals, including MS-13 and other gang members, as part of our ongoing mission to secure the border and enforce immigration laws. Thank you to all our partners for their bravery and dedication in executing this critical mission.”
This operation coincided with the joint announcement by the FBI and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the capture of one of MS-13’s most wanted leaders, David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman. Orellana-Aleman, a 27-year-old El Salvadoran national, was apprehended in Hyattsville, Maryland, on February 27. He had been a significant figure within MS-13, overseeing criminal activities across the United States, Mexico, and Europe. Previously charged in El Salvador with crimes such as firearm possession, extortion, and terrorism support, his arrest is seen as a major victory in the ongoing efforts to dismantle violent transnational criminal organizations.
Matthew Elliston, Acting Field Office Director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, underscored the importance of Orellana-Aleman’s arrest. “The apprehension of David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman is a substantial blow to the leadership and structure of the MS-13 terrorist organization,” Elliston said. “This arrest highlights the vital cooperation between ICE and the FBI, and we will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing illegal alien offenders from our communities.”
FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno further emphasized the positive impact of the arrest, particularly on Maryland’s safety. “Maryland is immediately safer due to this arrest. Together, we took one of the highest-ranking gang members in the U.S. into custody. This operation shows the success we can achieve when we collaborate to investigate and disrupt violent criminals targeting our communities.”
Orellana-Aleman’s criminal background includes previous arrests in El Salvador. On December 1, 2016, he faced charges for illegal firearm possession, extortion, and his involvement with MS-13. Despite these charges, he managed to illegally enter the U.S. at an unknown time and location without undergoing proper immigration processing. His presence in the U.S. was discovered on December 9, 2024, when he was arrested in Prince George’s County, Maryland, for driving without a license. Following this arrest, Orellana-Aleman was taken into ICE custody while authorities work to determine his legal status and the next steps for prosecution and deportation.
Alongside the successful arrests, Patel has also attracted attention for his innovative approach to strengthening the FBI’s workforce. Recent reports indicate that he has proposed a collaboration between the FBI and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to improve the physical fitness of FBI agents. Sources familiar with the initiative suggest that Patel’s plan includes working with the UFC to develop specialized fitness programs tailored to enhance agents’ conditioning and combat readiness. UFC CEO Dana White, a known supporter of former President Donald Trump, is said to be a key figure in this potential partnership.
During his first teleconference with the leaders of the FBI’s 55 field offices on Wednesday, Patel introduced the idea of incorporating UFC training techniques into the agency’s physical fitness regimen. The proposal quickly sparked interest among some FBI officials, who saw potential benefits in enhancing agents’ fitness with such a specialized program. “If they’re trying to up their physical fitness, the UFC is very specific in their fitness,” noted Rich Frankel, a former FBI special agent in charge of the Newark, New Jersey, office, in an interview with ABC News.
This proposed collaboration with UFC marks a notable departure from traditional FBI fitness protocols, aligning with Patel’s broader vision of modernizing and strengthening the bureau’s operations. While it remains to be seen whether the UFC partnership will come to fruition, Patel’s early actions as FBI director already signal a bold and aggressive approach to law enforcement and agency reform, setting a new tone for the future of the bureau.
