The notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TDA) has established a presence in every major city in Tennessee, according to state officials. Known for its ruthless tactics and involvement in human trafficking, TDA’s expansion poses a significant threat to communities across the state.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) director David Rausch informed Gov. Bill Lee (R) during a recent budget meeting that TDA first appeared in Tennessee two years ago. Since then, the gang’s influence has grown rapidly, with its presence now confirmed in cities like Memphis and Nashville.
“We first saw them a couple years ago where we uncovered a group here in a human trafficking operation,” Rausch said. He noted that the gang abducted women from Venezuela and smuggled them into Tennessee for exploitation. While some members were arrested, others fled the state, only to return and expand their operations.
The gang’s activities are not limited to trafficking. TDA has also been linked to organized retail theft, drug trafficking, and brazen acts of violence. “They will not hesitate to attack their opponents in public and in broad daylight,” Rausch explained. He cited a shocking incident where the gang filmed the murder of a cartel member, shooting the victim 31 times in daylight and posting the footage online.
TDA’s methods and willingness to confront cartels head-on have alarmed officials. The gang reportedly begins its operations in new areas by focusing on trafficking before expanding into other criminal enterprises.
While the Department of Homeland Security has identified over 600 individuals in the U.S. with ties to TDA, their influence spans at least 15 states, with suspected activity in another eight. Rausch emphasized that the gang’s numbers in Tennessee are substantial, though specific figures were not disclosed.
As law enforcement works to address this growing threat, the gang’s infiltration underscores the challenges posed by transnational criminal organizations and their impact on local communities.
