Texas law enforcement officials detained a man suspected of being an MS-13 gang member and wanted for murder in El Salvador during a routine traffic stop for defective brake lights.

Luis Manuel Hernandez Bonilla was detained on Tuesday by Lakeway Police officers who were conducting standard patrol operations, according to an official statement from the department. Officers noticed Bonilla driving with “defective brake lamps” and pulled him over. During the stop, they identified him as a known MS-13 gang member and discovered he was wanted for homicide by authorities in El Salvador.

Bonilla was arrested without incident and subsequently handed over to federal immigration authorities. Records from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) show he was later transferred to the Boone County Jail in Burlington, Kentucky.

In their statement, the Lakeway Police Department emphasized their commitment to community safety through proactive measures such as traffic enforcement and criminal interdiction. “The Lakeway Police Department is dedicated to unsurpassed safety and service to our community through various law enforcement methods, including traffic enforcement and criminal interdiction,” the statement read.

MS-13, also known as Mara Salvatrucha, has been classified as one of the most violent and dangerous transnational criminal organizations. Its growing presence in the United States has raised significant concern among law enforcement agencies and policymakers. The gang is notorious for its brutal tactics, which include extortion, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and targeted killings.

In recent years, MS-13 has exploited vulnerabilities in the U.S. immigration system, often recruiting illegal immigrants, including unaccompanied minors, into their ranks.

Law enforcement agencies have reported an increase in gang activity in major metropolitan areas, particularly in states like California, New York, Virginia, and Texas.