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Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard praised Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent and his department’s work in capturing “dangerous drug trafficker and murderer, El Pato.”
She thanked him in a post on X, responding to the news. “NCTC is leading the Intelligence Community in driving actionable intelligence to law enforcement to target cartel threats that endanger American citizens,” she stated.
Gabbard also thanked President Donald Trump for his leadership, noting that due to his policies, “we are surging resources to disrupt cartel networks and working alongside our Mexican partners to make communities safer and protect American lives.”
Kent posted about the arrest on X, Tuesday. “Simon says: turn around if you’re wearing handcuffs!” he declared, noting that the NCTC aided American and Mexican law enforcement to capture the suspect. He then added, “We will pursue every terrorist who traffics deadly drugs into the United States to keep our homeland secure.”
According to the DNI press release, the NCTC and DNI office shared information to ensure the arrest of Sinaloa Cartel Plaza Boss Leonardo Daniel Martinez Vera, also known as “El Pato.” The capture was made on Oct. 15 in Juarez, Mexico. Among his listed crimes include: drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, and murder.
Cartels and transnational gangs were declared Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO) in January by President Trump, allowing Gabbard to utilize resources to track down El Pato. She stated in the press release, “We will not allow cartel gangs who target Americans to roam freely, whether in the U.S. or across the border in Mexico. Our team at NCTC is on the watch, preparing for the moment to strike.”
