The Trump administration deported 17 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gangs to El Salvador’s CECOT prison. These individuals were charged in New York City with crimes such as racketeering, sex trafficking, and drug trafficking. The Tren de Aragua gang, designated as a foreign terrorist organization, has been accused of brutal violence, human trafficking, and drug distribution in the U.S. The gang is led by Hector Guerrero Flores and has operations in Venezuela, Chile, Peru, and the U.S. Federal prosecutors charged six Tren de Aragua members with violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, accusing them of smuggling Venezuelan women into the U.S. and Peru to work as sex workers. These women were allegedly coerced through violence, including threats to their families. The gang also trafficked in a substance called pink cocaine, a hallucinogenic compound. Additionally, 21 individuals associated with Tren de Aragua’s rival, Anti-Tren, were charged with similar crimes, including murder, assault, and sex trafficking. Prosecutors allege that these individuals used violence to control trafficking victims and traffic illegal substances like pink cocaine. The charges were issued under the RICO Act, with several defendants facing multiple felony charges including obstruction of justice and firearms offenses.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
