Breaking the news in a momentous announcement, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced that it had launched and succeeded in a major operation targeting illegal immigrant gangsters affiliated with the violent, transnational gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) in a seeping operation in Hays County.
As background, Hays County is on the outskirts of Austin and is one of the state’s major metropolitan areas. So, the massive law enforcement operation targeting Tren de Aragua in the county managed to, it appears, significantly weaken the gang’s foothold near one of the most populous and important Texas cities, freeing citizens and residents from a major worry.
In any case, in the April 2 announcement about the prior day’s humongous operation, the Texas DPS noted that a slew of different departments and agencies worked with it to hold the gangsters accountable, and noted that the operation that investigated those gangsters has been ongoing for over a year.
Explaining as much, the Texas DPS said, “For more than a year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD), the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and several other federal, state and local partners, have been investigating members and associates believed to be part of the Venezuelan transnational gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA).”
Continuing, the press release indicated why the collection of agencies and departments finally took action after over a year of gathering information, noting that there was intelligence indicating that the gangsters in the area would all be gathered in a targetable location. It said, “In recent days, the FBI developed intelligence regarding a possible gathering of suspected TdA members or TdA associates in Hays Co.”
Then, explaining that the operation targeting them occurred in the morning on Tuesday, April 1, and managed to sweep up dozens of gangsters in the vicinity of the residence around which they were gathered. It said, “Early Tuesday morning, the Hays Co. Sheriff’s Office and DPS, working with the FBI, ICE, Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement Removal Operations, established sufficient cause to obtain a search warrant for a residence in Hays Co., which was executed by DPS’ Special Response Team. As a result of this operation, more than 40 individuals, including minors, were taken into custody at or near the residence, and narcotics were seized.”
Concluding, the report indicated that the state is still determining what charges to bring and that it will update the public when it is able to release more information, saying, “State and federal prosecutors will evaluate potential charges based on evidence obtained during the search warrant and subsequent investigation. This case is currently under investigation. More details will be released as they become available.”
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Commenting on the arrests and their significance in a post on X, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said, “Great work by @TxDPS and our federal partners. Over 40 TdA vicious criminals are now behind bars and off our streets. Tren de Aragua tried to set up shop in Texas. But we won’t let this ruthless gang take root in our state.”
Watch protesters attempt to block the transportation of the Tren de Aragua gangsters here: