( ) — A senior member of The infamous Venezuelan prison gang known as Tren de Aragua, , has faced charges for allegedly consorting with a designated foreign terrorist group and supplying them with resources, along with involvement in drug trafficking, according to an announcement made by justice department officials on Wednesday.
Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, who is also known as “Chuqui,” was charged in federal court in Texas after a five-count indictment was unsealed. Flores, 24, was also charged with conspiracy and distribution of cocaine in Colombia, which was intended to be distributed in the United States.
Flores was detained in Colombia on March 31 following the issuance of a temporary warrant by U.S. authorities. Federal officials stated he continues to be held in Colombia awaiting additional legal processes. The charges against Flores came shortly after 27 individuals linked to Tren de Aragua were indicted by federal agents.
TDA is not a street gang — It is a tightly organized terrorist group that became entrenched in our nation during the previous government’s tenure," Attorney General Pam Bondi stated in a release from the DOJ. "These charges mark a turning point for how this Department of Justice intends to pursue and eventually break down this malevolent group, which has devastated American families and contaminated our neighborhoods."
The Tren de Aragua and MS-13 were both labeled as foreign terrorist organizations by President Donald Trump soon after he assumed his role in January.
Government authorities stated that Flores holds a prominent position within the Tren de Aragua organization based in Bogotá, Colombia, and he is closely associated with key leadership figures of the gang. It is alleged that Flores was involved in arranging for around 5 kilograms or more of cocaine to be transported globally for distribution purposes. The revenue generated from these drug sales reportedly went towards advancing the group’s illegal activities.
If found guilty, Flores could be sentenced to up to life behind bars and fined as much as $10 million.
Threatening Domestic Affairs poses a direct risk to our national security, to our communities, and to American citizens, FBI Director Kash Patel He stated, "In collaboration with our law enforcement allies, the FBI remains steadfast in our efforts to eradicate this violent terrorist group from our neighborhoods. The recent announcement underscores that individuals involved, particularly the heads of these cartels, do not belong in our nation."
Patel stated in a social media post that Flores' arrest marks "a significant advancement" in dismantling the activities of violent terrorist gangs and eradicating them from American neighborhoods.
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