This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
The U.S. Department of Justice has just escalated its battle against members of Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan terrorist organization that has moved into America and "destroyed American families with brutal violence … [and] human trafficking."
Explained U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, on the filing of organized crime charges against 27 gang members, "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. 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."
Matthew Podolsky, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, filed the cases against 27 individuals, and said, "Today, we have filed charges against 27 alleged members, former members, and associates of Tren de Aragua, for committing murders and shootings, forcing young women trafficked from Venezuela into commercial sex work, robbing and extorting small businesses, and selling 'tusi,' a pink powdery drug that has become their calling card. Today's Indictments make clear that this office will work tirelessly to keep the law-abiding residents of New York City safe, and hold accountable those who bring violence to our streets."
The charges were listed in two superseding indictments that named the individuals, and alleged "racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, robbery, and firearms offenses."
"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," the federal announcement said.
Border czar Tom Homan said: "Every member of TdA should be on the run because the Trump administration is committed to removing every single member of TdA and MS-13 from this country."
Todd M. Lyons, acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said, "We are at the forefront of efforts to identify, disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal gangs like Tren de Aragua from operating in our cities and around the world."
"Tren de Aragua is one of the most dangerous gangs in the country, and the NYPD has taken significant action to shut down their operations in New York City. For the first time ever, TdA is being named and charged as the criminal enterprise that it is. This isn't just street crime—it's organized racketeering, and this gang has shown zero regard for the safety of New Yorkers. 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," explained NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch.
The charges allege TdA is a "criminal organization" and works to build its own power through "acts involving murder, assault, robbery, other acts of violence, and threats of violence, including acts of violence and threats of violence directed at former members and associates of TdA who associated with a splinter organization known as Anti-Tren."
Also cited are activities including smuggling individuals, "including young women from Venezuela, into Peru and the U.S." for "sex trafficking."
Part of the gang's operations include terrorizing victims and potential victims, defending its members caught committing crimes and concealing criminal activities.
The DOJ announcement included a long list of names and an even longer list of aliases.
"This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Justice Department to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN). In February 2025, Tren de Aragua was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization," the announcement said.
