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By Marni Rose McFall
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The FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list includes alleged murderers, cartel leaders, gang bosses and fraud suspects accused of crimes ranging from narcotics trafficking and terrorism support to homicide and financial fraud.
The programme was implemented in 1950 by the former FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover, and as of early 2026, 540 fugitives had been added to the list.
The list recently made headlines after the arrest of the organized crime figure Nitish Kaushal.
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Kaushal, 26, was added to the list on July 13 and was taken into custody on July 16, when Border Patrol agents responded to a reported break-in attempt near the Canadian border. The FBI has since assumed custody of Kaushal for further investigation and prosecution.
The FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list currently includes alleged cartel leaders, gang bosses, murder suspects and financial fraudsters.
Many of these fugitives vanished long ago. Some are believed to be hiding in foreign countries, while others have not been publicly seen for years. In several cases, authorities have released only limited information about their whereabouts, leaving investigators to rely on tips from the public and international law enforcement partnerships.
Bhadreshkumar Chetanbhai Patel
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Last seen: Newark, New Jersey
Patel is wanted for the 2015 stabbing death of his wife, Palak Patel, at a Dunkin' Donuts in Hanover, Maryland. Investigators allege Patel killed his wife in a stockroom before fleeing. Surveillance footage later captured him at Newark Penn Station in New Jersey, where he was last known to have been seen before disappearing. He was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list in 2017 and remains one of the bureau's longest-running fugitives.
Yulan Adonay Archaga Carias
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Last seen: El Progreso, Honduras
Known by the alias "Porky," Archaga Carias is accused of leading MS-13 operations in Honduras and supporting the gang's drug trafficking, firearms trafficking and violent criminal activities throughout Central America and the United States. Federal prosecutors have charged him with racketeering conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons offenses.
His last publicly documented appearance came in February 2020, when he escaped from a courthouse in El Progreso, Honduras, with the assistance of heavily armed associates during a deadly breakout that left multiple security personnel dead. He has remained at large since.
Ruja Ignatova
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Last seen: Athens, Greece
Ignatova, known internationally as the "Cryptoqueen," is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the OneCoin cryptocurrency fraud scheme, which U.S. authorities say defrauded investors of more than $4 billion worldwide. She faces charges including wire fraud, securities fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
According to the FBI, Ignatova was last known to have traveled from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Athens, Greece, on October 25, 2017. Investigators believe she may have traveled elsewhere afterward and have suggested she could have altered her appearance.
Omar Alexander Cardenas
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Last known location: Believed to have fled to Mexico
Cardenas is wanted for the 2019 fatal shooting of Jabali Dumas outside a barber shop in Sylmar, California. Federal authorities subsequently charged him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
The FBI says Cardenas may have fled to Mexico after the killing and continues to have family and associates in Southern California. Authorities have not publicly identified a confirmed recent sighting.
Wilver Villegas-Palomino
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Last known area: Catatumbo region, Colombia and Venezuela
Villegas-Palomino is a senior figure in the National Liberation Army (ELN), a Colombian guerrilla organization. U.S. authorities accuse him of overseeing narco-terrorism activities and international cocaine trafficking operations tied to the ELN's Northeastern War Front.
Federal authorities have linked him to operations in the Catatumbo region along the Colombia-Venezuela border. No specific publicly reported last sighting has been released by the FBI.
Fausto Isidro Meza Flores
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Last known location: Mexico
Known as "Chapo Isidro," Meza Flores is accused of heading a major drug trafficking organization responsible for moving cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States. Prosecutors also allege his organization has been involved in murder, kidnapping, torture and extortion.
The FBI and State Department say Meza Flores likely resides in Mexico, where he is believed to continue operating his criminal organization. Authorities have not disclosed a more recent confirmed sighting.
Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano
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Last known area: San Vicente, Venezuela
Mosquera Serrano is alleged to be a senior leader of Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang that the U.S. government has designated a foreign terrorist organization. He has been charged in the United States with cocaine trafficking offenses and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
According to the State Department, Mosquera Serrano oversaw Tren de Aragua's finances in San Vicente, Venezuela, and was considered one of the organization's key leaders. The FBI has not publicly identified a more recent confirmed location.
Trung Duc Lu
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Last seen: Vietnam
Lu is wanted in connection with the 2014 torture, kidnapping and murder of two brothers in Philadelphia. Prosecutors also allege he participated in extortion and marijuana trafficking offenses tied to organized criminal activity.
The FBI says Lu, a suspected member of the Born to Kill street gang, was last confirmed to be in Vietnam. He has longstanding ties to New York City's Queens borough and is believed to speak both English and Vietnamese.
Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre
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Last known ties: Venezuela and Mexico
Canelon Aguirre is wanted for allegedly directing an international ATM "jackpotting" scheme that prosecutors say generated millions of dollars for Tren de Aragua. Federal authorities have charged him with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering, computer crimes and providing material support to terrorists.
While the FBI has not publicly disclosed a last confirmed sighting, investigators say he maintains ties to both Venezuela and Mexico and remains at large.
How to Report Information
The FBI encourages the public to share information that could help locate fugitives or provide leads in ongoing investigations. Tips can be submitted through the FBI’s official tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or online at tips.fbi.gov. The bureau advises that callers should not attempt to confront or approach wanted individuals themselves.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Alabama Jackson and Cristina Diciu.
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