A man suspected of trafficking weapons for the Venezuelan gang Torren de Aragua has been charged in Texas with capital murder and aggravated kidnapping.
Ivor Gabriel Cira Vargas, 29, was held in the Bexar County Jail on $2 million bail following the death of 18-year-old Alexis Jose Vegas, who was found face down with multiple gunshot wounds in July. are. On the side of the highway in San Antonio san antonio express news.
Fox News Digital reported in September that Shira Vargas was previously detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is suspected of arms trafficking in connection with Torren de Aragua.
Investigators were reportedly taken to Cira Vargas after investigating him for robbery charges.
Venezuelan gang members arrested in southern state this week; authorities warn of resurgence in Torren de Aragua
Ivar Gabriel Cira Vargas is currently charged with murder and kidnapping. (Bexar County Sheriff's Office)
The unidentified man told police he was in the apartment with Vegas and another person on July 1 when three armed suspects broke in, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Vegas and the unidentified man were then tied up with zip ties and forced into the back of the car before being taken to a grassy area along Route 281, the newspaper said.
As they were removed from the vehicle, Silla Vargas and another gunman in the passenger seat began firing at them, according to the San Antonio Express-News.
The unidentified man told investigators he was injured but pretended to be dead until the suspect left the scene, police said.
Torren de Aragua gang members arrested in New York City
These images from a CBP intelligence bulletin show Torren de Aragua's tattoos and identifiers. Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of known or suspected TdA members. (ice)
Members of Torren de Aragua are said to have committed murder, rape, extortion, kidnapping, and other horrific crimes.
Researchers traced the origins of Torren de Aragua, which means “Aragua train,” to the Tocolon prison in Venezuela's Aragua state between 2013 and 2015.
On October 5, 2023, Peruvian police carried out the deportation of several members of the criminal organization Torren de Aragua in Lima. (CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP via Getty Images)
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Torren de Aragua has been active in Texas since at least 2021, when gang members were arrested on human trafficking charges, according to Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The governor designated TdA a “foreign terrorist organization” in September and launched a statewide operation to aggressively pursue the gang.
Fox News' Louis Casiano, Chris Pandolfo, Bonny Chu and Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
