Several members of the Torren de Aragua (TDA) were arrested on Saturday after Texas state police raided a vacant apartment complex that the violent Venezuelan gang was “controlling” and using for crimes, authorities said. It was done.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said at a news conference that law enforcement conducted the raid after receiving multiple complaints of drug violations, human trafficking and threats against apartment staff.
“We have received information that members of the transnational gang Torren de Agua control the area and are committing various crimes,” McManus said.
Authorities evacuated about 300 vacant apartments at the complex and arrested 19 of the 20 people detained. McManus said 15 of those people have been detained and warrants have been confirmed for several.
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San Antonio Police Chief William McManus confirmed that four of the people arrested were members of Torren de Aragua. (curve)
Four of those detained were confirmed to be members of the transnational gang Torren de Aragua, McManus said, adding that one was acting as an enforcer for the gang.
McManus said the operation was carried out by San Antonio Police, the Texas Anti-Gang Unit, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the FBI, Border Patrol and the Department of Internal Security. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images, File)
He said the four TDA members are currently in the custody of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Mr McManus said the gang was known to have been operating in the area for “several months” and the investigation into illegal activity had been ongoing for several weeks.
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“We would like to assure the community and the public that we are committed to their safety and are fully committed to addressing this TDA issue that seems to have become so public these days. ” said the chief.
McManus told reporters that law enforcement “has other locations we plan to hit” to eliminate the gangs.
“We're on our way to you. We'll pick you up,” the police chief said. “We know where you are, and we'll come get you.”
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Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.
