
Trump administration brings first terror-related case against alleged high-ranking Tren de Aragua gang member
CNN
The Department of Justice has for the first time charged an alleged high-ranking Tren de Aragua gang member with terrorism-related crimes, officials announced Wednesday.
The Department of Justice has for the first time charged an alleged high-ranking Tren de Aragua gang member with terrorism-related crimes, officials announced Wednesday. As part of its immigration crackdown, the Trump administration has targeted the Venezuelan gang for months – designating it a foreign terrorist organization in February following an executive order issued on President Donald Trump’s first day in office. The Department of Justice alleges Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, 24, is a high-ranking Tren de Aragua – or TdA – leader in Bogotá, Colombia, and is part of the “inner circle” of senior gang leadership, according to a Wednesday news release. He also allegedly “caused the delivery” of cocaine for international distribution to further the gang’s criminal goals, the department said. Flores, who is detained in Colombia, was arrested by Colombian authorities on March 31 after the US issued a provisional arrest warrant. On April 8, a Houston federal grand jury filed a superseding indictment. It is not yet clear when he will be extradited to the US. Flores was charged with one count of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization as well as another count of conspiracy to provide material support, according to the indictment filed in a Texas federal court. Flores, a Venezuelan national, was also charged with one count of international drug distribution conspiracy and two counts of international drug distribution.