Police and military authorities arrested gang member Remberto Ismael Colindres this Saturday in the southeastern town of Tapachula, Chiapas, during routine patrols and surveillance in the city’s outskirts. Colindres—a native of El Salvador identified by that Central American government as a high-priority target with an international wanted notice—faces accusations regarding his ties to criminal and terrorist groups, attempted extortion, and making threats against President Nayib Bukele and his inner circle of associates.
The alleged member of the “Barrio 18 Revolucionarios” faction was spotted during joint patrols conducted by state police, investigative police, the Mexican Army, and the National Guard in a neighborhood on the edge of Tapachula. Upon noticing the uniformed officers, Colindres attempted to flee but was cornered by police and military personnel.
Security forces were conducting routine patrols when they encountered the gang member, who had been wanted in El Salvador since 2022. After entering the detainee’s information into the Transnational Anti-Gang Center platform—a system connecting Mexico with Central America’s Northern Triangle to track down fugitives from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador—authorities identified Remberto Ismael Colindres as the individual responsible for threatening to detonate car bombs at government buildings or locations where Bukele was present.
The arrest comes just hours after another gang member, identified as 28-year-old Jonathan Adonay, was handed over to Mexican immigration authorities and expelled via the Talismán–El Carmen international bridge under Interpol supervision. The government of Nayib Bukele had issued two arrest warrants against him for the crimes of belonging to a terrorist organization and aggravated participation in a terrorist organization. This Saturday afternoon, four additional gang members—arrested during recent operations in Tapachula and the southern region of Chiapas—were expelled by agents from Mexico’s National Migration Institute (INM), Interpol, and police forces via the Talismán-El Carmen border crossing.
The detainees were identified as Diego Omar, 27, alias “Omar,” an alleged Mara Salvatrucha member wanted in El Salvador; according to investigations by the Anti-Gang Center, he intended to establish ties with a Mexican cartel to distribute and traffic firearms from Central America.
Also on the list is Roberto Jandres, 30, alias “Adobe,” linked to the rival Barrio 18 gang and accused in El Salvador of aggravated homicide, unlawful restraint, involvement in terrorist organizations, and resisting arrest. Another of those captured is Josué Antonio, 28, an alleged MS-13 member wanted for illicit association; and Carlos, 48, alias “Kriky,” of Barrio 18, accused of illicit association.
The five alleged criminals were handed over to agents from Guatemala’s National Division against Gang-Related Criminal Activity (DIPANDA) for transport to the Salvadoran border.
