Texas police search apartment apparently controlled by brutal Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, arrest 20 – DNyuz

Law enforcement officials in San Antonio, Texas, conducted a raid on Saturday that led to the arrest of 20 individuals, four of whom were confirmed members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

Over the past year, TDA has rapidly expanded its transnational crime network into parts of the United States, namely Colorado, Chicago and New York. In Aurora, Colorado, gang members have taken over several apartment complexes, Blaze News previously reported.

“We’re on to you and we’re coming to get you.”

TDA members reportedly took over Palatia Apartments, a complex in San Antonio. Authorities confirmed that the gang was in ‘control’ of the property and used it as a base to commit a number of crimes.

According to WOAI-TV, TDA is involved in prostitution, the sale of cocaine and violent crimes.

According to San Antonio Police Chief William McManus, law enforcement officers conducted the weekend raid after several complaints of narcotics violations, human trafficking and threats against the complex’s staff.

McManus told reporters Saturday that the audit was conducted by a task force made up of officers from the SAPD, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the FBI, the U.S. Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security.

“We had information that members of the transnational gang Tren de Aragua were in control of the area and were committing several crimes,” McManus said.

Officers evacuated nearly 300 vacant apartments in the complex and arrested 20 people. One of the arrested TDA gang members was a “confirmed enforcer for that gang,” McManus said.

“Currently, 19 individuals have been arrested with 15 detainees,” he said, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s detainee requests.

The confirmed TDA members were transferred to Homeland Security Investigations and ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations.

“They were individuals with confirmed arrest warrants. Several individuals had already received removal orders through HSI,” McManus added.

He noted that the investigation is still ongoing.

According to McManus, TDA has been operating in the area for “several months.”

He stated that the department also has other locations it plans to raid in its continued effort to curb the gang’s influence.

“We assure the community and the public that we are committed to their safety and we are on top of this TDA issue that appears to have become very public as of late,” McManus said.

‘We’re on to you and we’re coming after you. We know where you are,” he said, directing his comments to TDA.

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Texas police apartment apparently controlled by brutal Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, arrest 20 appeared first on TheBlaze.