A multi-state operation targeting the notorious Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA), has resulted in the indictment of ten alleged members and associates. Authorities seized a significant cache of 34 illegal firearms, including AR-15s and a modified Glock 9mm, and disrupted a drug trafficking network distributing substances like pink cocaine. The gang's reach extended across at least six states, with plans for expansion into Colombia.
All ten suspects, including two women, are Venezuelan migrants who entered the U.S. illegally through the southern border. Led by two individuals who arrived in New York City two years ago, the group established a sophisticated gun-running operation involving other foreign nationals. Enyerbert Blanco, 24, the alleged ringleader, is currently in custody in Florida on unrelated human trafficking charges.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz highlighted the gang's brazen tactics, describing instances of firearms being transported in garbage bags and transactions occurring in broad daylight. The investigation, known as Operation Train Derail, revealed that assault weapons were sold for $2,500 to $2,800, while handguns fetched between $1,200 and $1,800.
Four suspects are currently in custody in New York City, four are detained in other states (Texas and Florida), and two remain at large. The operation spanned Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Colorado, in addition to the states where arrests were made. While the primary focus is on the gun-running aspect of the case, the involvement of ICE and potential deportation remains unclear.
During one arrest, an NYPD officer sustained a broken arm and will require surgery. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch emphasized the danger posed by TdA, describing them as a transnational gang involved in murder, trafficking, and other violent crimes. The NYPD is committed to working with federal and local partners to dismantle such organizations.
This bust follows recent immigration raids in the Bronx, where another TdA member, Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, was apprehended. Zambrano-Pacheco is wanted in Colorado for various charges, including burglary, menacing with a firearm, and kidnapping. He is also suspected of attempting to purchase grenades.
