HOUSTON, Texas — A significant victory against crime was achieved as a coalition of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies swooped in to arrest 16 members of the notorious Venezuelan “Anti-Tren” gang. This operation marks the largest crackdown on the Anti-Tren faction by the FBI to date.
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, Nicholas J. Ganjei, emphatically stated, “Our dual priorities are securing our border and eliminating violent crime. This operation represents a decisive step toward achieving both.”
In a coordinated effort, teams from the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals, ICE, and local law enforcement agencies banded together to dismantle this criminal network. The charges against the accused include serious offenses like drug trafficking and weapons violations tied to former members of the Tren de Aragua gang, recently classified by the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Officials revealed that the Anti-Tren gang’s operations involve an array of violent actions, aimed at preserving their power and dominance—conduct that includes attempted murders and other brutal acts.
According to the latest reports, two criminal complaints have been filed against 14 of these gang members and associates for conspiring to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine. The indicted include individuals with ties to Venezuela, showcasing the international reach of this criminal enterprise.
“Operation Take Back America is about taking the fight to transnational criminal organizations to safeguard our communities,” declared Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas will relentlessly pursue this mission.”
FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams added, “These arrests are monumental—representing the largest anti-Anti-Tren operation orchestrated by the FBI.” He warned that these individuals have engaged in horrific violence, including a recent mass shooting at a local bar that wounded six people, underscoring the imminent threat they pose to public safety.
Details from the Department of Justice outlined further criminal charges against several individuals for weapons offenses, bringing troubling revelations about their activities. One of the suspects, Jose Miguel Briceno, is implicated in the aforementioned shooting and could face severe penalties if convicted.
The entirety of those arrested may face life sentences and fines up to $10 million. The investigation is being spearheaded by the Department of Justice’s Joint Task Force Vulcan, which has expanded its purview to combat criminal organizations like Anti-Tren.
Most of the alleged criminals were set to appear in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray for their initial hearings, marking a critical moment in the battle for law and order in our communities.
