Federal agents have apprehended seven individuals believed to be members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang. This successful operation was carried out in a New York City apartment, with the crucial assistance of an ankle monitor worn by one of the suspects. The dedicated team responsible for this operation consisted of federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the NYPD.
28-year-old Venezuelan national Jarwin Valero-Calderon, who had a court-ordered monitoring device, was among those arrested. Authorities were able to locate his hideout through the device. Valero-Calderon had a history of arrests, including multiple charges for larceny in New York and New Jersey, as well as a prior deportation order. Despite his criminal record, he had managed to evade mandatory check-ins with immigration authorities and remained free. “Better late than never,” commented a law enforcement officer, questioning why Valero-Calderon had been allowed to remain free after multiple arrests.
Tren de Aragua, previously a prison gang, has transformed into a transnational criminal organization in recent years. Exploiting the significant influx of Venezuelan migrants since 2018, they have expanded their operations to various South American countries including Colombia, Peru, and Chile. Disturbingly, there are now indications of their presence in different areas of the United States.
Members of Tren de Aragua cannot be easily identified as they do not rely on tattoos or other distinctive markings to show their affiliation. While some law enforcement agencies have associated certain tattoos, like rifles or Michael Jordan logos, with the gang, tattoos are not consistently used by members as a means of identification.
According to law enforcement sources, the gang is said to have recruited individuals from migrant shelters and is reportedly engaged in drug and weapons trafficking, human trafficking, and organized theft throughout the five boroughs.
In the Bronx, a number of individuals were apprehended, all of whom had multiple warrants for crimes committed after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. One of the suspects, Jhonaiker Alexander Gil Cardozo, 24, had been arrested at least four times in New York and South Carolina for offenses such as grand larceny, reckless endangerment, and shoplifting. Jesus Manuel Quintero Granado, 30, another individual involved, had been denied asylum in Canada and subsequently faced multiple arrests in New York and New Jersey on theft charges.
Angel Gabriel Marquez Rodriguez, 19, and Fernandez Franco Greymer De Dios, 21, were also detained. Rodriguez had previous arrests for shoplifting and larceny in Chicago and New York City, while De Dios had a pending court date for deportation but went missing after being released.
According to authorities, the operations of Tren de Aragua go beyond just its adult members. It has been reported that the gang’s youth faction, referred to as “Diablos de la 42,” has been involved in thefts in Times Square, taking advantage of New York’s criminal justice system to maintain their presence on the streets.
The limited cooperation between authorities in the United States and Venezuela poses a challenge in vetting suspected gang members who enter the U.S. This lack of collaboration leaves border agents with scarce resources to thoroughly verify the backgrounds of these individuals.
Alleged Tren de Aragua activity has been reported in at least ten U.S. states, including Texas, Colorado, New York, and Illinois, in recent months.