In a significant development, Estefania Primera, an alleged sex trafficking mastermind with purported ties to the infamous Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, has been apprehended in El Paso, Texas.
This information was revealed in a confidential Border Patrol memorandum, as reported by Newsweek.
Primera, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, is accused of a heinous crime. She allegedly drugged a woman and facilitated her gang rape while the victim was unconscious. The victim's testimony suggests that Primera was operating a sex-trafficking ring from a hotel in a border town.
The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Primera on suspicion of human trafficking, leading to a second-degree felony charge. The confidential memo indicates that Primera was arrested on September 27 in El Paso, Texas, in the company of her five young children. Authorities believe she used her children to transport and sell drugs within Texas.
The El Paso Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security have been contacted for further comment on the matter.
Primera is suspected of managing the operations of the Venezuelan crime syndicate in El Paso from the Gateway Hotel. This establishment was recently shut down by authorities following numerous complaints about illegal activities. The victim identified Primera as the orchestrator of the prostitution ring, as per the memo.
The victim's account is chilling. She alleges that Primera repeatedly drugged her with fentanyl-laced pills, causing her to lose consciousness. Upon regaining consciousness, she discovered multiple men sexually assaulting her. She also claims to have seen men paying Primera for forced sexual acts. These alleged assaults resulted in serious injuries to the victim.
The victim also reported that Primera physically assaulted her multiple times, preventing her from leaving the hotel. However, on September 24, with the help of another woman, she managed to escape the hotel.
The Texas Department of Public Safety was alerted to the situation when the victim contacted a Border Patrol agent and confessed to having been forced into prostitution at the hotel. The agent subsequently detained the woman for being in the United States illegally.
In response to the growing threat of the notorious gang, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of its members. The Tren de Aragua gang has been accused of spreading "terror and carnage" across the United States.
The gang came under national scrutiny in August when footage of its members storming an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, surfaced online. Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman has suggested that former President Donald Trump's recent visit to the area could help dispel some of the "exaggerated" narratives about the gang's influence.
Trump, who has criticized the Biden-Harris administration's border policies, described the town as a "war zone" overrun by Venezuelan gangs. However, Coffman maintains that Aurora is a safe city, not overrun by Venezuelan gangs. He extended an invitation to Trump to visit the community and meet with the police chief for a briefing.
The arrest of Primera, the alleged ringleader of a sex-trafficking operation, underscores the ongoing challenges posed by illegal immigration and criminal activities along the border. It also highlights the importance of robust law enforcement and border control measures to ensure the safety and security of American citizens.
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