Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua members arrested same week officials warned of problem
Authorities in Tennessee made significant strides in combating the resurgence of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua last week, with the arrests of two key members. The first arrest involved Luis Alejandro Ruiz-Godoy, who was wanted on outstanding warrants through INTERPOL. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials took Ruiz-Godoy into custody and transported him to Louisiana for deportation.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) announced the arrests of four individuals, including a Tren de Aragua member, during a sex trafficking sting operation. The Human Trafficking Task Force received information that led them to a hotel in Hamilton County, where they apprehended the suspects involved in a human sex trafficking operation.
Three female suspects – Wilimar Herrera Guedez, Rebeca De Los Juarez Lucena, and Yidalbris Marcano Salas – were charged with prostitution, with Salas facing additional drug-related charges and unlawful weapons possession. The male suspect, Adelvis Rodriguez-Carmona, was charged with patronizing prostitution, drug-related offenses, and unlawful weapons possession. Rodriguez-Carmona is known to be a member of Tren de Aragua and is suspected of committing violent crimes in Chicago and New York City.
The TBI highlighted the gang’s expanding presence in major Tennessee cities, such as Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Director David Rausch emphasized the challenges law enforcement faces in cracking down on gang-related activities, especially when suspects do not have immigration detainers.
Rausch warned Governor Bill Lee about the resurgence of the gang in Tennessee cities, echoing concerns raised by the Department of Homeland Security. The agency recommended placing over 100 migrants with possible ties to the Venezuelan gang on an FBI watchlist, as part of efforts to address the growing threat posed by Tren de Aragua.
The crackdown on Tren de Aragua members in Tennessee underscores the authorities’ commitment to ensuring public safety and combating organized crime. These arrests serve as a reminder of the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in tackling transnational criminal organizations and protecting communities from their harmful activities.
