Delivering a massive sweep to illegal criminals in the country, the Trump administration accused a high-ranking member of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) terrorist organization of terrorism.
This landmark case marks the first time terrorism statutes have been applied to the notorious gang, showcasing President Trump’s promised crackdown on violent criminal organizations threatening American communities.
Attorney General Pam Bondi did not mince words when announcing the charges against Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, known as “Chuqui,” who is currently detained in Colombia awaiting extradition.
Bondi stated:
“This is not just a street gang – TdA is a highly structured terrorist organization that put down roots in our country during the prior administration. Today’s charges represent an inflection point in how this Department of Justice will prosecute and ultimately dismantle this evil organization, which has destroyed American families and poisoned our communities.”
The charges stem from President Trump’s February declaration of TdA as a foreign terrorist organization under an 18th-century wartime statute.
Martinez Flores faces multiple serious allegations, including conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and international drug distribution conspiracy.
As part of TdA’s “inner circle,” prosecutors say Flores oversaw the gang’s international cocaine distribution network in Bogota, Colombia.
If convicted, the criminal could face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a $10 million fine.
The Trump DOJ’s approach represents a significant escalation in tactics against transnational criminal organizations.
FBI Director Kash Patel reinforced the administration’s tough stance: “TdA is a direct threat to our national security, to our communities, and to Americans.”
Moreover, the DOJ statement details how Flores allegedly facilitated the delivery of approximately five kilograms or more of cocaine for international distribution, with proceeds used to further TdA’s criminal goals.
The case is part of Operation Take Back America, the administration’s comprehensive initiative targeting illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations.
The Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), originally created to eradicate MS-13, has expanded its mission to target TdA and similar threats to American security.
This legal action coincides with a large deportation effort by the Trump administration, which has already used the Alien Enemies Act to deport over 200 TdA members.
The administration’s aggressive stance represents a dramatic course correction after years of lax border policies that allowed criminal organizations to establish footholds in American communities.
At the same time, the FBI, DEA, and other law enforcement agencies conducted the investigation with crucial assistance from Colombian authorities,
This showcases the administration’s commitment to international cooperation in fighting transnational criminal threats.
The DOJ also noted that an indictment contains allegations only, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
For American communities that have suffered from the violence, drug trafficking, and other criminal activities associated with TdA, the terrorism charges against Flores signal that the days of foreign criminal organizations operating with impunity are coming to an end.
President Trump’s promise to protect American citizens from foreign threats is being fulfilled through decisive action against one of the Western Hemisphere’s most dangerous criminal organizations.
