The Trump administration has announced two Superseding Indictments charging 27 individuals currently or formerly associated with the designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (“TdA”) with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, robbery, and firearms offenses.
The first Superseding Indictment (the “TdA Indictment”) charges six alleged members of TdA. The second Superseding Indictment (the “Anti-Tren Indictment”) charges 19 alleged members of “Anti-Tren,” a splinter faction comprised of former TdA members, along with two additional associates of Anti-Tren.
Of the 27 defendants, 21 are in federal custody, including 16 who were already in federal criminal, immigration, or state custody and five who were arrested last night and today in operations in New York and other jurisdictions.
READ: Nichols Sentenced To 20 Years For Violent Carjacking Incident In Citrus County
“As alleged, Tren de Aragua is not just a street gang — it is a highly structured terrorist organization that has destroyed American families with brutal violence, engaged in human trafficking, and spread deadly drugs through our communities,” stated Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Today’s indictments and arrests span three states and will devastate TdA’s infrastructure as we work to completely dismantle and purge this organization from our country.”
Sex trafficking emerged as a central focus of the indictment. Federal authorities detailed an alleged intricate operation where gang members smuggled women, referred to as “multadas,” from Venezuela to the U.S. to engage in sex work and pay off debts. Compliance was enforced through threats of violence, including murder, assault, and other forms of coercion.
READ: Maryland Mom Of 2 Found Dead; Illegal Alien Boyfriend And Uncle Charged In Connection
The gang is also accused of trafficking “tusi,” a pink powdery substance containing ketamine, which authorities described as the gang’s “calling card.”
“Tren de Aragua is one of the most dangerous gangs in the country, and the [New York Police Department] has taken significant action to shut down their operations in New York City,” said New York City Police Department Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “For the first time ever, TdA is being named and charged as the criminal enterprise that it is.”
“As alleged in the indictment, these defendants wreaked havoc in our communities, trafficking women for sexual exploitation, flooding our streets with drugs, and committing violent crimes with illegal guns,” Tisch added.
This operation represents the latest effort by the Trump administration to dismantle TdA, which originated as a prison gang in Venezuela in 2013 and has since expanded into an international criminal enterprise with an estimated 5,000 members. Officials have confirmed TdA’s presence in at least 15 U.S. states.
READ: Florida Inmate Serving Murder Sentence Gets More Time For Threatening Prosecutor, Judge
The influx of Venezuelan migrants, fleeing economic and political turmoil under President Nicolas Maduro, has contributed to the gang’s expansion in the U.S. A leaked Department of Homeland Security report from October 2024 indicated that over 600 foreign nationals in the U.S. may have ties to TdA, while Immigration and Customs Enforcement documents from March listed over 170 TdA members on the agency’s non-detained docket.
President Trump’s designation of TdA as a foreign terrorist organization has provided authorities with increased resources to combat the gang. He also invoked the Alien Enemies Act (AEA) to expedite the detention and deportation of TdA members and reached an agreement with El Salvador to house deportees in the country’s mega-prison. However, these measures have faced legal challenges from Democrats and liberal groups, who have sought to block the administration’s use of the AEA for deportations.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
