MS-13 and Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gangs could form ALLIANCE, warns FBI agent

02/15/2024 / By Ramon Tomey

The Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Tren de Aragua (TDA) gangs could form an alliance and terrorize various cities where migrants are transported, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent warns.

John Morales, special agent in charge of the FBI’s El Paso division in Texas, issued this warning to the New York Post. According to him, TDA is a priority for the agency – and it has been closely monitoring the Venezuelan gang’s growth. Morales continued that the FBI is concerned about the gang forming alliances with other Spanish-speaking networks, adding that the bureau is actively sharing intelligence about TDA.

According to the Post, TDA is “rapidly expanding its criminal empire with a spate of brazen phone robberies” in the five boroughs of New York City. The outlet revealed in a separate report that the Venezuelan gang is “recruiting among new migrants at shelters to set up cellphone robbery gangs and using its international reach to traffic the phones to Colombia to be resold.”

“While these gangs wouldn’t normally mix, it’s always going to be a concern as … [TDA] expands in strength and establishes a foothold,” said Morales. Former U.S. marshal in El Paso and security consultant Robert Almonte agreed with the FBI senior agent’s remarks. (Related: Convicted murderers and terrorists are among the group of “harmless, poor” migrants in the caravan approaching the U.S. border.)

“They are already coming over as hardened criminals, but [TDA] could certainly be trying to recruit others to join the gang in the U.S.,” said Almonte. “I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that they could form alliances with other gangs.”

The gang’s name pertains to the Aragua province located in the north-central region of Venezuela. It was established by Hector Guerrero while incarcerated at the Tocoron Penitentiary Center in the same province. TDA has exploded into other South American nations like Colombia, Peru and Chile – and has been making inroads in Chicago and Miami.

TDA, MS-13 are both known for their brutality

Meanwhile, Salvadoran migrants established MS-13 in Los Angeles back in the 1980s, according to the Daily Express. The group boasts heavily tattooed leaders and a membership of more than 10,000. It also has close links to Mexican drug cartels.

Despite the different countries of origin, both TDA and MS-13 share common denominators – members of both gangs are Hispanophones and have made a reputation for their brutality. The Post recounted one instance of MS-13 members launching a bloody crime wave in the Queens and Long Island areas of NYC. This culminated in the 2017 murder of Julio Vasquez, who was stabbed 13 times and almost beheaded.

Meanwhile, TDA also exhibited its brutality through “torture and murder of its victims – including prostitutes, whom it routinely executes to take control of the sex trade.” Spanish newspaper El Pais recounted one incident in the Peruvian capital Lima, where members of the Venezuelan gang murdered rival pimps and prostitutes to gain control of the sex trade there. According to the outlet, the market brings in more than $275,000 monthly.

“[TDA’s] first victims are their fellow Venezuelans,” Morales remarked, adding that the gang tries to recruit new members among their migrant community.

According to Almonte, this brutality could frustrate any potential alliance between the two gangs. “What’s more likely to happen is that turf wars break out as each gang fights to control their own criminal enterprise,” he commented.

Head over to Violence.news for similar stories.

Watch this clip of Oscar “El Blue” Ramirez being ambushed and mugged by MS-13 members while reporting.

This video is from the SecureLife channel on Brighteon.com.