TBI Issues Warning About Venezuelan Gangs in Tennessee
**NASHVILLE, Tenn.** — The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has issued a warning about the activities of Venezuelan gangs, particularly a group known as **“Tren de Aragua,”** which is reportedly operating in major cities throughout the state.
Criminal Activities
Tren de Aragua has gained notoriety for engaging in various serious crimes, including:
– Sex trafficking
– Murder (often occurring in broad daylight)
Tennessee Representative Mark Green, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, expressed his outrage in a press release on Friday. He emphasized the necessity of tackling this issue and commended the TBI for its proactive efforts. Green also expressed support for the forthcoming Trump administration’s plans to strengthen border security.
This alarming situation highlights increasing concerns about gang violence and its impact on community safety in Tennessee. The TBI aims to raise public awareness and encourage vigilance among residents. According to the agency, these gangs often begin by coercing individuals into human trafficking, subsequently expanding into organized retail crime and drug trafficking.
“We know that they are taking on the cartels,” TBI Director David Rausch stated. “They haven’t held back in letting cartels know that they will battle for control of drug trafficking territories.”
The TBI has urged anyone who suspects human trafficking to report it to law enforcement immediately. Their campaign, titled ‘It Has to Stop,’ seeks to illuminate the issue of human trafficking occurring in both large cities and small towns. The goal is to educate the public on identifying the problem. “I think the key piece is that we are concerned,” Rausch said in a video message released Friday. “The alarm has been sounded only to raise awareness and understanding that they are here.”
Rausch elaborated on the ongoing situation in Tennessee, detailing efforts to gather intelligence and what the public needs to know. His comments followed a budget meeting with Governor Bill Lee, where he and other department heads warned about the resurfacing of this violent gang.
“They are in Tennessee,” Rausch affirmed. “Currently, we see them involved in human trafficking operations in all of our major cities.”
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