Sixteen alleged Venezuelan gang members, many in the U.S. illegally, face federal charges in the FBI’s largest operation ever targeting the dangerous Anti-Tren network operating on American soil.
Key Takeaways
- Federal authorities arrested 16 suspected members of the Anti-Tren gang, an offshoot of Venezuela’s notorious Tren de Aragua criminal network, on drug trafficking and weapons charges.
- The suspects, mostly Venezuelan nationals living in Houston, many illegally present in the U.S., allegedly conspired to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine and engaged in illegal weapons sales.
- This operation is part of “Operation Take Back America,” a coordinated effort to combat transnational criminal organizations flooding across our southern border.
- One suspect, Jose Briceno, is linked to a mass shooting at a Houston sports bar in March, highlighting the violent nature of these criminal enterprises.
- If convicted, the suspects face potential life sentences and up to $10 million in fines, with additional firearms charges carrying 15-year sentences.
Venezuelan Gang Violence Reaches American Communities
The FBI’s Houston field office announced the arrest of 16 individuals connected to the Anti-Tren criminal organization, a violent offshoot of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua (TdA) transnational gang. This operation marks the FBI’s largest takedown of Anti-Tren members to date, with suspects facing serious federal charges related to drug trafficking and weapons violations. Most of those arrested are Venezuelan nationals residing in Houston, with many illegally present in the United States, further highlighting the national security crisis at our southern border.
“These arrests are the largest takedown of suspected Anti-Tren members and associates by the FBI so far,” said Douglas Williams, FBI Special Agent in Charge.
Drug Trafficking and Violent Crime Operations
Federal authorities filed two criminal complaints involving 14 suspects who allegedly conspired to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine. According to court documents, two groups within the organization had agreed to transport cocaine for $15,000 per load, showing the substantial scale of their drug trafficking operations. Several suspects also face additional charges related to illegal firearms possession and sales, underscoring the comprehensive criminal enterprise these foreign nationals were operating within our communities.
Among those charged is Jose Miguel Briceno, a Venezuelan national accused of unlawful possession of ammunition. Briceno is also linked to a mass shooting at Latinas Sports Bar in Houston this past March, demonstrating the extreme violence these criminal organizations bring to American cities. The timing of these arrests is particularly significant as they follow the FBI’s recent addition of a TdA member to its 10 Most Wanted list, highlighting the growing threat posed by Venezuelan gangs operating within the United States.
Coordinated Law Enforcement Response
This major crackdown involved the coordination of multiple agencies, including the FBI, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Texas Department of Public Safety, Houston Police Department, and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. The operation is part of a broader initiative called “Operation Take Back America,” which aims to eliminate cartels and protect American communities from violent transnational crime that has flourished under weak border policies.
“Feds charge 16 alleged ‘Anti-Tren’ gang members in a major drug and gun trafficking bust, FBI says,” stated the FBI, in their official statement on the operation.
The consequences for these alleged criminals could be severe. If convicted, they face potential life sentences and fines up to $10 million for the drug trafficking charges alone. Additional weapons charges could add up to 15 years to their sentences. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys in coordination with the Department of Justice’s Joint Task Force Vulcan, which specializes in taking down transnational criminal organizations that have been allowed to infiltrate American communities through our open southern border.
