A Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua, notorious for its criminal activities, has been linked to a series of robberies in New York City.
The gang members, many of whom are illegal immigrants, are suspected to have exploited the Biden administration's leniency towards Venezuelan migrants to infiltrate the United States. The New York Post reports that between October 2022 and September 2023, 41 members of this South American criminal enterprise were apprehended by Customs and Border Protection.
Law enforcement sources, as cited by the New York Post, have identified a pattern in the robberies, predominantly involving male culprits on mopeds targeting women. These crimes bear a striking resemblance to those previously committed by Tren de Aragua. The gang members are believed to be part of the influx of Venezuelan asylum seekers entering the United States in recent months. This situation has sparked a political debate, with Republicans advocating for stricter immigration controls to prevent the infiltration of organized crime, while Democrats propose increasing the intake of newcomers from Venezuela.
Originating in the Venezuelan state of Aragua in 2012, Tren de Aragua, or "Araguan Train," was established by trade union members. Initially, their criminal activities were centered around a proposed railroad, giving the gang its name. However, their operations have since escalated to more violent crimes, including robberies, drug trafficking, and human trafficking. Despite being labeled a criminal enterprise by the Venezuelan government, the gang remains active not only in Venezuela but also in Colombia, Peru, Brazil, and Chile.
The gang's Colombian branch leader, Jos Manuel Vera, known as "Satan," was arrested following a failed extortion scheme that resulted in the gruesome murder and dismemberment of employees. The gang has now extended its operations to the United States, using shelters in New York City as recruitment centers.
The first robbery in New York City attributed to the gang occurred in November 2023, with the most recent incident reported on February 4. The crimes spanned all boroughs except Staten Island, with Manhattan accounting for 56 percent of the incidents.
New York Police Department Chief Detective Joe Kenny disclosed that the gang comprises illegal immigrants residing in the city's shelter system. He identified 30-year-old Victor Parra as the city's gang leader. Parra reportedly used WhatsApp to instruct his followers on the specifics of the crimes, including the type of phone to steal.
"Once the messages are received, the crime wave begins," Kenny stated, revealing that the scooter operators earn $100 a day, while the phone snatchers make between $300 to $600 per stolen phone.
The stolen phones are then taken to Parra's residence in the Bronx, where a technician hacks into the devices to access the victims' financial and banking apps. The phones are subsequently used for illegal transactions and fraudulent purchases in the United States and South America. Once the victims' bank accounts are drained, the phones are shipped to Colombia for reprogramming.
Parra, who was released on bail in December following his arrest for grand larceny, remains at large. His arrest came just months after his arrival in the United States, highlighting the urgent need for more stringent immigration controls to curb the infiltration of organized crime into American society.
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