The United States Department of State reported this Wednesday that it is offering a reward of 5 million dollars for information leading to the capture of Yulan Adonay Archaga Carías, also known as "Porky" or Alex Mendoza, and identified by the US authorities as “the highest ranking member of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) in Honduras.”
Archaga Carías,
one of the most wanted fugitives by the FBI, the DEA and the Department of Homeland Security
, was criminally charged in the United States in 2021 for conspiracy to violate organized crime laws, conspiracy to import cocaine and possession of a machine gun in related to drug trafficking.
He is also wanted for "participating or attempting to participate in transnational organized crime activities."
Archaga Carías is “responsible for directing the criminal activities” of MS-13 that include drug trafficking, money laundering, murder, kidnapping and other violent crimes, according to the State Department.
[False news circulates on WhatsApp about an alleged "new technique" of MS-13 to rape women]
Simultaneous to the announcement of the reward for his capture, Archaga Carías was sanctioned by the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
“The Treasury sanctions against MS-13 are intended to disrupt their use of the financial system to launder illicit proceeds,” said Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.
The Mara Salvatrucha became
the first gang designated as a “transnational criminal organization”
in October 2012, according to the Treasury Department.
The extradition of Ovidio Guzmán López, son of 'El Chapo', is suspended for the third time
Feb 9, 202300:18
"MS-13 is a violent and destabilizing threat to the security of the population of Central America
," said Nelson, who said that thousands of people are forced to leave their countries due to the criminal activities of this gang.
Together with Archaga Carías, David Elías Campbell Licona, alias 'Jorge Eduardo Pérez Paz', a member of the MS-13 who is imprisoned in Nicaragua and was charged in 2021 for the same crimes as 'Porky' in the United States, was sanctioned.
Hitmen, extortion and jailbreak
Archaga Carías is accused of directing the drug trafficking operations of MS-13 in Honduras.
In addition, according to authorities, he has ordered the assassination or hired hit men to execute rival gang members and others associated with MS-13.
He is also charged with purchasing and supplying firearms, including machine guns.
[A dangerous bet in Central America: the state of emergency against gangs is extended]
In 2020,
Archaga Carías escaped from a Honduran prison
in an operation that involved some 20 men .
“who may or may not have been actual officers dressed in Honduran military and National Anti-Gang Force uniforms carrying assault weapons,” according to the Treasury Department.
Five people died.
The Department of State has asked to contact the number +1-202-451-8122 or +504 8886-7166 for any information on Archaga Carías.
