Law enforcement officials sound the alarm as a notorious Venezuelan prison gang expands its criminal activities across America.
According to Daily Mail, the Tren de Aragua gang, dubbed 'MS-13 on steroids,' has already established operations in 18 states, with experts predicting their presence could expand to more than 25 states by February 2025.
The gang has infiltrated remote areas like North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming while maintaining strongholds in major cities across Texas, New York, and Chicago. Former immigration and customs enforcement director John Fabbricatore warns that their rapid expansion poses a significant threat to American communities.
Venezuelan Crime Syndicate Exploits Border Crisis for Nationwide Operation
The gang members have entered the United States by blending in with the approximately one million Venezuelan migrants who have crossed the southern border during the Biden administration. They can often be identified by distinctive tattoos featuring trains, crowns, clocks, and AK-47s.
The organization has established a new headquarters in Juarez, Mexico, strategically positioned across from El Paso, Texas. This location serves as a launching point for their criminal activities throughout the United States.
Law enforcement investigations have linked the gang to a wave of violent crimes, including murders, attacks on police officers, and sex trafficking operations. Their criminal enterprises extend from major metropolitan areas to small towns across the country.
Recent Arrests Highlight Sophisticated Criminal Methods Nationwide
In North Dakota, authorities arrested three suspected gang members involved in a sophisticated ATM theft operation. The primary suspect, Henry Theis, was found with $24,800 in cash and admitted to working with other hackers to implement "jackpot" schemes using computer viruses.
Former ICE director Fabbricatore shared his assessment of the gang's motivation, stating:
They look at the United States as just one big money pit for them. It doesn't matter how far out, like you think, North Dakota - that's going pretty far. But to them, there's ATM machines there. There's jewelry stores there. There are things to rob. There's rich people there that they can hit their homes. Everything in the US to them is just dollar signs.
The gang has also demonstrated extreme violence in their operations. In Houston, Texas, authorities are seeking the death penalty for two alleged members accused of raping and murdering a 12-year-old girl. The suspects allegedly lured the victim from a convenience store and held her for two hours before her body was discovered in a bayou.
Urgent Warning Signals Growing National Security Threat
Law enforcement officials across multiple jurisdictions report increasingly sophisticated criminal operations by the gang. In Colorado, the group allegedly took over apartment complexes, with one being used as a torture facility where victims experienced severe physical abuse.
The gang has shown particular interest in recruiting young members. In New York, they have targeted children as young as 11 years old from migrant shelters, forming a group known as the "Little Devils of 42nd Street" who engage in armed robberies.
Recent arrests in Florida and Utah further demonstrate the gang's coast-to-coast reach. In Miami, Border Patrol agents apprehended a 19-year-old gang member, while Utah authorities have linked the group to a prostitution ring and shooting incident.
Nationwide Criminal Enterprise Leaves Law Enforcement Scrambling
The Tren de Aragua gang has rapidly expanded from its origins in a Venezuelan prison to become a significant criminal threat across the United States. The organization has successfully established operations in 18 states, exploiting the migrant crisis to infiltrate both major cities and remote areas.
Law enforcement officials predict their presence will continue to grow, potentially reaching more than 25 states by early 2025, as they engage in various criminal activities ranging from sophisticated financial crimes to violent offenses.
