Gang Crackdown: 27 Indicted in Tren de Aragua Case

Gavel next to indictment document on table

Federal authorities indict 27 members of the notorious Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang operating in New York City, revealing a criminal network responsible for trafficking, robbery, and drug distribution.

Key Takeaways

President Trump’s border czar and NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced federal charges against 27 alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, with 21 suspects already in custody.
The gang smuggled women from Venezuela into Peru and the U.S., forcing them into prostitution through threats and violence.
This case marks the first use of federal racketeering charges against the Venezuelan street gang, with charges including trafficking, drug distribution, robbery, and firearms possession.
The Trump administration has labeled Tren de Aragua as an “invading force” and invoked the Alien Enemies Act to deport noncitizens from countries the U.S. is at war with.
Mayor Adams emphasized his continued resolve to rid the city of violent immigrant gangs despite recent challenges to federal immigration operations at Rikers Island jail.

Major Federal Crackdown on Venezuelan Gang

In a significant law enforcement operation, President Donald Trump’s border czar Thomas Homan and New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced federal charges against 27 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang. This Venezuelan criminal organization has been linked to kidnappings, extortion, and other violent crimes across the Western Hemisphere. The announcement represents the first time federal racketeering charges have been deployed against this particular gang, which has established a growing presence in New York City and other parts of the United States after originating in Venezuela.

The charges are divided into two separate indictments: one focusing on the core Tren de Aragua members and another targeting the “Anti-Tren” splinter faction. Law enforcement officials have successfully apprehended 21 of the 27 charged individuals, while six remain at large. Among those indicted is Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, who was arrested in January and has been connected to violent criminal activity in the city. The gang’s activities include trafficking, drug distribution, robbery, and illegal firearms possession.

President Donald Trump’s border czar joined New York City’s mayor on Tuesday to tout new federal charges against 27 people accused of being Tren de Aragua gang members and associates. https://t.co/Hpm4o8Zikc

— KPRC 2 Houston (@KPRC2) April 23, 2025

Trafficking and Exploitation Network Uncovered

Investigators revealed a disturbing pattern of human exploitation by the gang members. According to federal prosecutors, Tren de Aragua smuggled young women from Venezuela into Peru and the United States, then coerced them into prostitution through threats and violence. The criminal enterprise operated a sophisticated network that profited from the exploitation of vulnerable victims, many of whom had fled desperate economic conditions in Venezuela only to find themselves trapped in a nightmare of forced prostitution.

“Every member of TDA should be on the run,” said Thomas Homan, President Trump’s border czar, highlighting the administration’s aggressive stance against the gang.

President Trump has taken a hard line against the gang, characterizing Tren de Aragua as an “invading force” and implementing the Alien Enemies Act to expedite the deportation of noncitizens from countries with which the United States is at war. This approach represents a significant escalation in federal efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations operating within American borders. The administration has prioritized dismantling these networks as part of its broader immigration and border security strategy.

Political Cooperation Amid Ongoing Challenges

The joint announcement by Mayor Adams and Border Czar Homan demonstrates cooperation between New York City leadership and the Trump administration despite past political differences. This collaboration comes shortly after federal corruption charges against Mayor Adams were dropped, allowing him to focus on addressing public safety concerns in the city. Adams has maintained his commitment to tackling violent crime, particularly among immigrant gangs that have established operations in New York.

“This is what collaboration looks like,” said Thomas Homan, emphasizing the partnership between federal authorities and local law enforcement.

The crackdown faces some local resistance, however. Mayor Adams supports allowing federal immigration officials to operate at Rikers Island jail to identify and process deportable immigrants with criminal records, but this plan has been temporarily halted by a New York judge following a lawsuit from the City Council. The legal challenge represents ongoing tensions between different levels of government regarding immigration enforcement policies. Despite these obstacles, Adams has remained firm in his stance on crime reduction and public safety.

“The question that we must answer: whose side are you on?” said Mayor Eric Adams, challenging critics of his approach to public safety and immigration enforcement.