MS-13 gang member wanted for murder in El Salvador arrested in New York after illegally entering US
A member of an international criminal gang has been arrested in Moncks Corner, New York, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday.
Elmer Neftali Martinez-Escobar, 31, a suspected MS-13 gang member, was arrested Saturday, June 29, and booked into the Hill-Finklea Detention Center after being discovered during a traffic stop, deputies said.
He was charged with simple possession of marijuana and then transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after it was discovered he was a wanted illegal immigrant.
While patrolling the area of Highway 52 and Highway 402, a deputy stopped a vehicle with a faulty tail light, according to the sheriff’s office.
The deputy made contact with the driver, Martinez-Escobar, and reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Martinez-Escobar admitted to having a few grams inside the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office.
After searching the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) for Martinez-Escobar’s name, the deputy discovered that Martinez-Escobar had ties to transnational organized crime and was a fugitive from El Salvador wanted for homicide.
The INCC also listed him as a member of the Mara Salvatrucha, better known as the international criminal gang MS-13.
After finding a plastic bag containing approximately eight grams of marijuana, Martinez-Escobar was arrested and charged with simple possession.
Similar articles
