In just over a year, Tren de Aragua (TDA), a violent South American gang originating from Venezuela, has infiltrated New York City, taking advantage of the migrant crisis to establish a foothold within city shelters and neighborhoods. The gang’s swift rise has brought a surge of violent crime, including gun trafficking, robbery, and prostitution, leaving average New Yorkers and even the city’s elite police force overwhelmed.
The New York Post published an in depth look at how the dangerous gang is operating from the shadows of migrant shelters and tent cities; TDA is hiding in plain sight. Armed with guns and mopeds, the gang has terrorized Gotham, running prostitution rings and selling illegal weapons under the noses of shelter security. They are also notorious for peddling a lethal drug mix known as Tussi or “pink cocaine,” adding to the city’s growing fentanyl problem.
NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny acknowledged the gang’s ability to “hide in plain sight” within the migrant community. “Not every migrant is here to commit crimes, not every migrant is a gang member,” Kenny stated, “but these TDA guys hide very well.” He described how gang members have gone as far as wearing Uber Eats uniforms and using delivery bags while committing their crimes. Despite arrests, the gang members remain tight-lipped about TDA’s operations.
The gang’s name, which translates to “Train from Aragua” after a Venezuelan state, is becoming infamous across the city. Jackson Heights, particularly the stretch of Roosevelt Avenue, has become a hub for TDA’s illegal activities, including an open-air black market and a flourishing prostitution ring. Recent police raids have linked a 24-hour brothel to the gang’s operations, adds The Post.
TDA’s rise in New York has coincided with a spike in violent crimes, many committed by migrants. Law enforcement reports indicate that nearly two dozen armed heists have been carried out by teenagers, typically between 15 and 19 years old. These groups of young gang members target both retail stores and unsuspecting New Yorkers.
The NYPD recently shut down a robbery crew linked to TDA, arresting or identifying nearly two dozen migrant teens responsible for 21 separate robberies. One victim described being assaulted by up to 10 attackers: “They wanted everything… They started and punched me to the face,” he said, recounting how he tried to fight back but was overwhelmed.
TDA gang members have shown little regard for law enforcement, even targeting police officers. In June, 19-year-old gang member Bernardo Castro Mata was arrested in Queens for shooting two NYPD officers during a robbery attempt. Earlier this year, 15-year-old Jesus Alejandro Rivas-Figueroa was arrested for allegedly firing at a tourist and police officer in Times Square. Other migrants with alleged ties to TDA have also attacked NYPD officers.
