The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed charges against senior figures of Tren de Aragua, marking the first indictment of its kind by the Trump administration against gangsters.
According to the DOJ, a five-count indictment was sealed on Wednesday against Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, known as “Chuki.” At 24 years old, he is accused of conspiring to provide and offer material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations, intended to intrigue and distribute Colombian drugs within the US.
“Information submitted to the court indicates that Flores is a prominent TDA leader in Bogota, Colombia, and is part of the inner circle of senior TDA officials,” the DOJ stated. “Flores is also alleged to have orchestrated the delivery of over five kilograms of cocaine for international distribution, aiding the TDA’s criminal objectives.”
The charges arise from a broader initiative by the Trump administration to take action against Venezuelan gangs, generally referred to as the TDA.
“The TDA is not merely a street gang. It operates as a highly organized terrorist entity with connections to our nation during the previous administration,” Attorney General Pam Bondy noted in a statement. “The charges announced today signify a pivotal moment in how this Department of Justice prosecutes and ultimately disrupts this malevolent organization.”
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the allegations against Flores, who was detained by Colombian authorities on March 31 under a U.S. arrest warrant.
The DOJ indicated that he will stay in custody in Colombia pending further legal proceedings.
“Under Attorney General Bondi’s guidance, these accusations represent a significant advancement in combating violent terrorist gangs and uprooting them from American society,” Patel stated online.
The Trump administration declared in February that the TDA was among several groups designated as a terrorist organization.
The charges against Flores follow extensive deportation actions taken by the administration.
Last month, Trump invoked alien enemy laws from wartime that hadn’t been utilized since World War II, resulting in the deportation of over 200 TDA members. This legal action has faced challenges in court, as the administration asserts that the members were already outside U.S. airspace when the judge mandated their removal.
