Two young elderly people from the church of Jesus Christ of the Saints of the last days (LDS) were shocked to hear that a large FBI-BUSTE went down in the suburb of Virginia where they preached.
The two teenagers from the Salt Lake City area were on a missionary trip in Woodbridge, Virginia, to serve for those who would listen about Mormonism.
Elder Ford and Elder Collings have lived in North Virginia for months and they have had the task of converting the locals and spreading information about their religion.
Originally they approached DailyMail.com to talk about the LDS church, but soon the conversation turned around the news of the day: the FBI arrested a controversial cartel leader just a few minutes away.
While serving, the young men are not allowed to access the internet, they revealed, adding that they had not heard the shocking news.
According to the FBI, a TOP MS-13 Kartellider, Henrry Josue Villatoro Santos, 24, who originally came from El Salvador, had infiltrated the neighborhood, just 30 minutes' drive from the White House. Santos was one of the top three of the US employees based in the US.
The Mormons, who had spent their day through the local streets that were not aware of the gang activity in the area, were obliged by the news.
“It is super strange that he was here in Woodbridge,” Elder Collings told DailyMail.com. “I didn't think this is such a crazy place.”
Both LDS members were shocked to hear that a top MS-13 cartel leader was arrested in the neighborhood that they have been assigned to spread Mormonism
FBI director Kash Patel, Right, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, listened during a press conference about an MS-13-Bendeleider who was arrested in an operation by the Virginia Homeland Security Task Force, at the Manassas FBI Field Office, Thursday 27 March 2025
Collings shared that the neighborhood seems 'Low Key', and the fact that a top suspected drug trafficking lived that there is 'a shock to hear'.
“I think that super cool that they could get him and be able to put him in prison,” he told DailyMail.com. “It is super good that we can now be safe here, now that he is no longer on the street on the street, just doing bad things about people.”
His evangelical partner, Elder Ford, who was also astonished, agreed.
“That is good to have him behind bars where he belongs,” Ford told DailyMail.com, admitted, “I am often worried about safety. '
'We wake up every morning and pray for safety, so just know that this world is a bit safer because of the POlice Force and things like that, things they have done to help us protect us and feel safe us, make us feel happy. '
The early morning attack in Dale City, Virginia, Die Woodbridge Neighborhood, was attended by FBI director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Santos was arrested for accusations of weapons after the raid, in which authorities discovered four firearms and a golden silencer.
Ford shared that he was happy that the Trump administration sent a message by attending the raids.
A photo of the early morning surgery posted by Bondi on Thursday with the caption: 'I am proud to announce that our brave law enforcers asked a successful operation early who has recorded a top 13 national leader'
Prisoners remain in a cell in the mega prison of the terrorism restriction (Cecot), where hundreds of members of the MS-13 and 18 street gangs are held, in Tecoluca, El Salvador on January 27, 2025
Images of the firearms that the FBI and DOJ repaired from Santos' home
“They probably try to send a little bit of a message and send the higher ups, to ensure that they know that this is not OK.”
“Especially as a member of a church, you know, to ensure that everything is safe for children and the next generation, they simply ensure that crime can remain under control.”
Other residents in the neighborhood also expressed their dismay about the cartel bust.
Another local, Willard, The Daily Mail told: 'I am completely surprised to hear that. You know, Woodbridge is a bit of an unobtrusive area. '
“I am absolutely surprised to hear that,” he added. “I was aware that there was gang activity, but nothing for that scale.”
George, who works in the area, said, “They, as I just said, go back to their country. We don't need criminals like this. '
“I'm glad Trump is doing something about it,” he added.
Although a man told DailyMail.com that the signs of gang infiltration were clear before Santos was arrested on Thursday.
“I know they got MS-13s here, but didn't know the leader was here,” he shared. “That's ridiculous.”
Lester, a Woodbridge, Virginia, inhabitant, said that the signs of local cartel infiltration were clear because the cartel had clearly marked its territory.
“They are going to paint people cars and so on, they put them MS-13 on cars and human houses,” he revealed, adding that he was happy that the federal authorities arrived.
