Last week, authorities in Tennessee made significant arrests related to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, following a warning about the gang's resurgence in the state. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials apprehended Luis Alejandro Ruiz-Godoy, a wanted individual with outstanding INTERPOL warrants. Ruiz-Godoy was transported to Louisiana for deportation.
Additionally, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced the arrest of four individuals, including a Tren de Aragua member, during a sex trafficking sting operation. The arrests took place at a hotel in Hamilton County, where law enforcement confirmed the suspects' involvement in a human sex trafficking operation.
Three female suspects are facing charges related to prostitution, while one male suspect, identified as a known Tren de Aragua member, is facing charges including patronizing prostitution, drug-related offenses, and unlawful weapons possession. The male suspect is also suspected of committing violent crimes in other major cities.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville Public Affairs Officer Mike Meares stated that the investigation is ongoing, with limited information available at this time. The male suspect remains in custody at the Hamilton County Jail on a $125,000 bond.
TBI Director David Rausch expressed concerns about the gang's activities, highlighting their involvement in human trafficking, organized retail crime, and drug trade. Rausch warned of the gang's expansion into various criminal activities across cities in Tennessee, emphasizing the challenges law enforcement faces in combating gang-related crimes.
The Department of Homeland Security has recommended placing over 100 migrants with potential ties to the Venezuelan gang on an FBI watchlist, following the identification of more than 600 individuals with possible connections to the gang. The resurgence of Tren de Aragua in major Tennessee cities has raised alarms among law enforcement officials and government authorities.
