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4d ago

First Terrorism Charges Filed Against Tren de Aragua Leader in U.S. Crackdown

Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, a high-ranking leader of the Venezuelan gang, faces federal terrorism and drug trafficking charges as part of an intensified U.S. campaign to dismantle the organization.

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Overview

  • Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, a senior Tren de Aragua leader, has been charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and international cocaine distribution.
  • This marks the first time U.S. authorities have filed terrorism charges against a member of the Venezuelan gang, following its designation as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025.
  • Martinez Flores was arrested in Colombia on March 31 and remains in custody there pending extradition to the United States.
  • The Trump administration has escalated its efforts against Tren de Aragua, invoking the Alien Enemies Act to deport over 200 suspected gang members last month.
  • The DOJ also recently unsealed RICO indictments against 27 suspected gang members in New York, targeting the gang's operations in the U.S.