The Justice Department has charged a high-ranking member of Tren de Aragua on terrorism and international drug distribution charges. This is the first time that the U.S. government is using terrorism charges to prosecute a member of the violent gang. The charges against 24-year-old Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, also known as “Chuqui,” include conspiring to provide and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Flores is alleged to be a Plaza Boss in Bogota, Colombia and part of the inner circle of senior Tren de Aragua leadership. He is also facing charges related to conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in Colombia intended for the United States.
Attorney General Pam Bondi described Tren de Aragua as a highly structured terrorist organization that has infiltrated the United States during the previous administration. She stated that the charges represent a turning point in how the Department of Justice will prosecute and dismantle this dangerous organization. FBI Director Kash Patel identified Tren de Aragua as a violent arm of the Maduro regime operating within U.S. borders. He emphasized the importance of using all available tools to confront them as a transnational threat, noting their involvement in drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other criminal activities.
Jose Enrique Martinez Flores was arrested in Colombia by Colombian authorities on March 30 after a provisional arrest warrant was issued by the United States. This is the first time that the DOJ has used terrorism charges to prosecute members of Tren de Aragua, thanks to President Trump’s Foreign Terrorist Organization designation. Additionally, the Trump administration recently filed racketeering charges against Tren de Aragua members and associates in New York. These charges include offenses such as murder, sex trafficking, assault, drug dealing, and more.
The charges against 27 current and former Tren de Aragua members include human smuggling, sex trafficking, and murder. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York reported that 21 of the 27 alleged gang members and associates are currently in federal custody, with 16 already in federal criminal, immigration, or state custody, and five recently arrested. These indictments are part of “Operation Take Back America,” an initiative aimed at combatting illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime.
Fox News Digital previously reported that the FBI believes Venezuelan government officials likely facilitate the migration of Tren de Aragua members from Venezuela to the U.S. to support the Maduro regime’s objective of undermining public safety. The charges against Tren de Aragua members and associates demonstrate the government’s commitment to dismantling this violent organization and holding its members accountable for their criminal activities. The use of terrorism charges against Jose Enrique Martinez Flores represents a significant step in prosecuting and ultimately dismantling Tren de Aragua as a threat to U.S. national security and public safety.
