In a significant victory against organized crime, the FBI's San Antonio division arrested more than 40 individuals, including minors, in a large-scale operation targeting suspected members of the Venezuelan transnational gang, Tren de Aragua (TDA). The operation, carried out with the support of multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, also resulted in the seizure of narcotics at the raid location in Hays County, Texas.
How the FBI Tracked Down TDA Members in Texas
For over a year, the FBI, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the San Antonio Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and other law enforcement partners investigated individuals believed to be associated with the TDA gang.
Their intelligence efforts led them to a residence in Hays County, where a suspected gathering of gang members was expected to take place. On April 1, after gathering sufficient evidence, law enforcement officials secured a search warrant and carried out the raid.
The Operation and Arrests
The DPS Special Response Team spearheaded the raid, successfully arresting over 40 individuals at or near the residence. Though officials have confirmed that narcotics were seized at the scene, they have not disclosed the exact substances or their quantities.
FBI Director Kash Patel acknowledged the operation’s success on social media, stating:
"Excellent work from FBI San Antonio. Our teams had worked with ICE and regional law enforcement partners to investigate suspected members of Tren de Aragua — and this week executed a search warrant and subsequent arrest of more than 40 individuals in Texas. We will continue working around the clock to crack down on drug trafficking and violent gangs who harm Americans. Justice will be done."
Tren de Aragua: A Growing Threat in the U.S.
Tren de Aragua, originally from Venezuela, has rapidly expanded its operations across multiple countries, engaging in human trafficking, drug distribution, and violent crime.
Their influence in the U.S. became widely recognized after the brutal murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Augusta University student. Venezuelan national and TDA member Jose Ibarra, who was in the country illegally, was found guilty of her murder in November 2024 and sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Government Response: TDA Labeled as a Terrorist Organization
In an effort to combat transnational criminal organizations, President Donald Trump wasted no time in taking executive action. Just hours after taking the presidential oath on January 20, 2025, Trump signed an order classifying all cartels and foreign gangs, including TDA, as terrorist organizations.
This federal designation follows a similar move by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who labeled TDA as a terrorist organization at the state level four months earlier. The designation allows law enforcement to pursue harsher penalties and expanded investigative powers against gang members operating in the U.S.
What’s Next?
The recent arrests in Texas mark a significant step in dismantling TDA's presence in the U.S., but law enforcement agencies acknowledge that this is just one battle in an ongoing war. With transnational criminal organizations expanding their reach, federal and state agencies are expected to ramp up efforts to identify and eliminate gang operations before they escalate further.
