NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Director David Rausch described new details on the rise of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TDA).
In a recent conversation with Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) on her "Unmuted with Marsha" podcast, Rausch explained TDA gained prominence in Venezuelan prisons under the Venezuelan government.
"The [Venezuelan] government— ultimately embarrassed by what was going on — went in to take the prisons back and then they claimed that they [TDA] all escaped when they went back in to take the prisons back," Rausch said. "And now, we know where they've escaped to. Most of them have transferred to other countries."
Rausch said TBI agents first noticed TDA in Tennessee two years ago while investigating a human trafficking case. Intelligence information indicated the gang left for a short period.
"All of a sudden now, we've seen in the past few months a resurgence,” Rausch added.
According to Rauch, intelligence information showed TDA established their presence in the U.S. and other countries through human trafficking. Eventually, Rausch said they moved on to other types organized crime, such as retail theft and drug trafficking.
"That's the next phase for them once they get established," Rausch said. "After they do that, then they move into the drug trade, and they actually take on the cartels at that point,” he said.
Rausch says some gang members bring women into the United States by claiming they are fleeing from the Venezuelan government.
"Some of them are coming in that way, but the majority of them are being smuggled in,” Rausch explained.
Rauch said some TDA members have taken over apartment complexes in other major cities across the U.S., but that hasn't happened in Tennessee.
"We're not there yet, but we don't want to get there,” Rausch said.
