Migrant TDA Gang Member Indicted for Drug and Gun Operation: Police

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Migrant TDA Gang Member Indicted for Drug and Gun Operation: Police

A massive arms and drugs-running operation orchestrated by the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TDA) has been thwarted, with ten alleged members and associates indicted in a high-stakes crackdown that spanned at least six states. Authorities revealed the gang’s chilling plans to expand internationally, with Colombia in their sights.

In a dramatic turn of events in New York City, police apprehended one of the accused violent gang members, who retaliated by breaking an NYPD officer’s arm during a scuffle. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz unveiled the startling discovery of a cache of 34 illegal guns, including high-powered AR-15 assault rifles and a Glock 9mm modified into an automatic weapon, linked to the suspects.

The Dark Underworld of TDA Revealed

Katz exposed the TDA gang’s sinister drug trade, where they trafficked deadly substances like pink cocaine, a designer street drug containing a lethal mixture of ketamine, MDMA, and ecstasy. The ten suspects, all migrants from Venezuela who entered the country illegally through the southern border, formed a gun-running crew led by Enyerbert Blanco, the alleged ringleader in custody since October for human trafficking charges in Florida.

“We allege that they trafficked weapons to advance TDA’s agenda, seeking to establish themselves in New York City. We are dismantling them one by one,” Katz declared, shedding light on the year-long investigation, code-named Operation Train Derail, jointly conducted by her office and the NYPD.

Five of the ten face severe charges, including two counts of criminal sale of a firearm, carrying a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison upon conviction. The remaining suspects are indicted on firearm possession charges and other offenses, potentially facing a 15-year sentence in jail. Collectively, they are accused of conspiring to possess and distribute illegal firearms in New York City.

The Ruthless Business of Gun Dealing

Katz painted a vivid picture of the gang’s bold gun-dealing tactics, where they operated with brazen precision. The suspects transported assault weapons wrapped in garbage bags for sale in broad daylight, with transactions occurring in public places like residential buildings and store parking lots. The group meticulously orchestrated their criminal enterprise, stealing firearms from burglaries and car break-ins in other states, then funneling them into New York City through the ‘iron pipeline.’

In a bold attempt to expand their operation, the gang discussed smuggling weapons into Colombia, inspired by the success of their illegal dealings. NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch emphasized the grave threat posed by TDA, labeling them a dangerous transnational gang specializing in murder, trafficking, and mayhem. Tisch reaffirmed the NYPD’s commitment to collaborating with federal and local partners to dismantle international criminal enterprises like TDA that pose a significant risk to public safety.

The list of indicted TDA gang members includes Wrallan Meza, Leoner Aguilera, Brayant Aguilar, Rosemary Sanchez, Enyerling Zambrano, Alejandro Rondon, and Oscar Sosa. The recent bust in Queens followed immigration raids in the Bronx, where gang member Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco was apprehended by the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations.

Zambrano-Pacheco, a wanted fugitive in Aurora, Colorado, faces charges of first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm, stemming from a violent incident captured on camera. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed Zambrano-Pacheco’s involvement in illegal weapons exchanges and his attempt to purchase grenades, alongside charges of kidnapping, extortion, and menacing.

As law enforcement agencies continue to crack down on violent criminal enterprises like TDA, the streets of New York City stand a little safer, thanks to the relentless efforts of dedicated officers and prosecutors. The dark underbelly of organized crime faces a formidable adversary in the tireless pursuit of justice and public safety.

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