A wave of indictments, unsealed Thursday, targets over 70 members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), signaling a dramatic escalation in efforts to dismantle the foreign cartel’s growing influence within the United States.
The charges paint a chilling picture of widespread criminal activity, alleging involvement in murder, kidnapping, extortion, robbery, and large-scale drug trafficking across multiple states – Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Texas, and New York.
Federal authorities allege TdA isn’t simply a criminal organization, but a terrorist group actively exploiting U.S. borders to inflict violence and chaos on American communities. The crackdown represents a determined effort to sever its reach.
In Colorado, two alleged leaders face RICO conspiracy charges, accused of orchestrating a pattern of racketeering that included brazen armed robberies at Denver jewelry stores. The indictment details crimes committed over a ten-month period.
Nebraska has seen 54 individuals indicted, accused of a sophisticated scheme utilizing malware to steal millions from U.S. banks through ATM hacking. Some are also charged with providing material support for terrorism and multiple financial crimes.
The brutality extends to New Mexico, where eleven alleged TdA members are accused of a horrific crime: kidnapping, interrogating, and strangling a victim before burying the body in a remote desert location.
Investigators also connected suspects to a deadly shootout at an Aurora, Colorado apartment complex, where rival groups exchanged gunfire, resulting in one fatality. The incident underscores the escalating violence linked to the cartel.
A key figure in the investigation is Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Nino Guerrero,” identified as a leader or co-leader of TdA for over a decade. He is accused of masterminding the gang’s expansion throughout the Americas and even into Europe.
Guerrero Flores allegedly directed acts of violence – including murders and kidnappings – across international borders, and facilitated the smuggling of tons of cocaine into the United States. He remains at large, and a $5 million reward is offered for information leading to his capture.
In Texas, four Venezuelan nationals face charges related to providing material support to TdA and conspiring to distribute cocaine from Colombia for sale within the U.S. Two are identified as top leaders within the organization.
These leaders allegedly wield command and control over all TdA criminal operations, while other high-ranking members direct activities like gold smuggling, narcotics exporting, and violent crimes from multiple South American countries.
Federal authorities are treating TdA as a significant national security threat, emphasizing a commitment to dismantling the organization and bringing its members to justice. The FBI is collaborating with partners nationwide in this effort.
The message from law enforcement is clear: there will be no safe haven for those who cross the border to commit violent crimes. The pursuit of TdA’s leadership and the disruption of its networks are now top priorities.
This sweeping crackdown signals a new level of resolve in confronting the growing threat posed by Tren de Aragua and its alleged reign of terror within the United States.
