Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang, has been making headlines due to its growing presence in the U.S., with recent incidents linked to the gang ranging from apartment shootouts in Aurora, Colorado, to kidnappings and murders near Dallas, Texas. Now, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the gang has a presence in every major city in Tennessee.
TBI Director David Rausch addressed the escalating threat during a budget meeting with Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee this week. During the meeting, he warned of an uptick in gang activity in the state over the last few months.
Rausch explained the gang, which originated in Venezuelan prisons, began appearing in Tennessee neighborhoods two years ago. However, he noted that Tren de Aragua is now active across cities like Memphis and Nashville.
Officials are particularly concerned about the gang’s involvement in human trafficking, especially the trafficking of women. They are also worried about violent gang clashes between Tren de Aragua and the cartel spilling out onto the streets.
“They are back in all of our major cities,” Rausch said. “They are running human trafficking operations, that is where they start. They will and they have taken on the cartel head on, and they’re very violent in their efforts.”
One example cited by Rausch involved gang members filming themselves executing a cartel member in broad daylight, shooting him 31 times, and then posting the video on social media.
“They will not hesitate to attack their opponents in public and in broad daylight,” Rausch said.
While Memphis and Nashville have confirmed reports of the gang’s presence, the Knoxville Police Department says it’s unaware of any Tren de Aragua activity in their jurisdiction. However, Rausch noted gang members, who were once easily identifiable by distinct tattoos, are now altering their appearances, making it more difficult for investigators to identify them.
The TBI is working with law enforcement agencies in other states to track the gang’s movements across the U.S.
