Ten alleged members and associates of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) have been indicted in connection with a massive arms and drugs-running operation spanning at least six states, including New York City.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Train Derail,” was carried out by the Queens District Attorney’s Office and the NYPD. Authorities said the gang members, who are migrants from Venezuela, entered the country illegally via the southern border and were involved in a range of illegal activities, including armed robbery, drug trafficking, and weapons trafficking.
The indictment alleges that the gang members were involved in the sale of illegal guns, including AR-15 assault rifles and a Glock 9mm with a trigger modification making it automatic. They were also accused of peddling deadly drugs, including pink cocaine, a designer street drug that contains a mixture of ketamine, MDMA, and ecstasy.
Five of the 10 accused are charged with two counts of criminal sale of a firearm and face up to 25 years in jail if convicted. The others are charged with various offenses, including gun possession and other crimes, and face a maximum of 15 years in prison.
The investigation, which began over a year ago, involved surveillance and undercover operations, and resulted in the seizure of 34 illegal guns, including the AR-15 assault rifles and the Glock 9mm. Authorities also seized a cache of illegal drugs, including pink cocaine.
Some of the guns seized were used in illegal sales, with buyers shelling out up to $2,500 for assault weapons and $1,800 for loaded, operable handguns. The gang members allegedly used rental vehicles to transport guns and drugs, and were involved in a range of illegal activities, including burglary and car theft in other states.
The arrests were announced just a day after immigration raids in the Bronx, which saw the capture of a gang member wanted for a brutal crime in Colorado.
The gang’s alleged leader, 24-year-old Enyerbert Blanco, is currently in custody in Florida, where he was arrested in connection with a human trafficking case involving a 15-year-old girl.
The Queens DA’s Office said the operation would continue to target the gang, which is notorious for its violence and brutality. “TDA is a dangerous transnational gang that has specialized in murder, trafficking, and mayhem,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “The NYPD will always work with our federal and local partners to take down international gangs like TDA, who would wreak havoc on this city.”
