( WVLT )
State leaders are warning of a dangerous gang that formed in prisons in Venezuela called Tren de Aragua that has been spotted in all major cities in Tennessee.
TBI Director David Rausch said the gang has been known for human trafficking and bringing Venezuelan women to the United States and Tennessee illegally.
Rausch addressed Governor Bill Lee on Tuesday and said that the gang had been active in the state in 2023, but for more than a year had been inactive after arrests were made. However, over the last few months, Rausch said there’s been an increase in activity once again.
“They are back in all of our major cities. They are running human trafficking operations, and that’s where they start,” said Rausch.
The TBI director went on to add that this gang has been known for not only human trafficking, but organized retail theft and drug crimes.
In some cases, members of Tren de Aragua have been known to clash head-to-head with members of the cartel, which has escalated to crimes as severe as murder at all times of the day, according to the TBI.
“They will not hesitate to attack their opponents in public or in broad daylight,” said Rausch.
While Rausch said this gang has recently been seen in every major city and metro area across the state, local law enforcement in Knoxville haven’t seen anything.
The Knoxville Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office said that they’ve not yet spotted any known members of Tren de Aragua in their jurisdiction, but they’re aware of the gang’s existence and are closely monitoring any possible activity.
TBI officials said that gang members used to be easily noticeable with distinct tattoos, but as of late, they’ve noticed that members are going away from the universal tattoos, which has made it tougher for investigators to notice a member of the gang.
Rausch clarified to Governor Lee that TDA is not causing violence in Tennessee any more than it is in other states, and is working to alert agencies in other states of the gang’s progress.
Tren de Aragua originated as a prison gang in Aragua, Venezuela, and in recent years, has quickly expanded throughout the Western Hemisphere, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned TDA as a transnational criminal organization in July 2024.
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