A notorious figure from El Salvador’s most-wanted gang members list has been apprehended on American soil, as confirmed by federal authorities.

Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla found himself in custody in Maryland earlier this month. His arrest came after police discovered him allegedly operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

This incident marks Lazo-Quintanilla’s first recorded encounter with law enforcement in the U.S. However, further investigation revealed that he is sought in El Salvador for a series of serious offenses, including aggravated homicide, extortion, and drug possession, as reported by DHS.

ICE agents apprehended Lazo-Quintanilla in Maryland in November 2025, following the traffic violation. His criminal background in El Salvador includes charges of aggravated homicide, extortion, and drug possession, per DHS records.

Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary at DHS, stated, “Seventy percent of ICE arrests involve criminal illegal aliens who have either been charged or convicted of a crime in the U.S. This gang member, a high-profile target from El Salvador’s most wanted list, exemplifies ICE’s focus on apprehending the most dangerous offenders.”

“He may lack a violent rap sheet in the U.S., but this criminal illegal alien is clearly a public safety threat.

Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla is “a confirmed member of the 18th Street Gang” in El Salvador, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration, according to DHS. (iStock)

“The media’s false claims that ICE is not arresting the worst of the worst simply has no grounding,” McLaughlin added. “In reality, ICE is arresting criminal illegal aliens before they can victimize Americans.”

Lazo-Quintanilla, whose mugshot shows a large “666” tattoo across his forehead, is also “a confirmed member of the 18th Street Gang” in El Salvador, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) by the Trump administration, according to DHS. 

Federal officials arrested illegal alien Antonio Israel Lazo-Quintanilla during a traffic stop in Maryland, and authorities later learned he is a member of El Salvador’s list of most-wanted gang members, according to DHS.  (Herika Martinez/AFP via Getty Images)

Details about when Lazo-Quintanilla entered the country were not immediately available.

The 18th Street Gang is “one of the largest gangs in our hemisphere and has conducted attacks against security personnel, public officials, and civilians in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras,” according to a statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

DHS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.