DOJ Indicts Tren de Aragua Leader on Terrorism and Drug Charges in Historic First
In a groundbreaking move, the Department of Justice has announced the first-ever terrorism charges against a member of the newly designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), marking a major escalation in the U.S. government’s war on transnational crime.
First Indictment Under New Executive Order Targeting Cartels and Gangs
The indictment, obtained by Fox News, charges Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, 24—known by the alias “Chiqui”—with conspiring to provide and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, in addition to conspiracy and international cocaine distribution.
Flores, reportedly a high-ranking member of Tren de Aragua, was arrested in Colombia last month at the request of U.S. authorities and will soon be extradited to face prosecution.
This indictment follows President Donald J. Trump’s executive order, signed on Inauguration Day, which designated groups such as TdA, MS-13, the Sinaloa Cartel, and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs)—giving federal law enforcement and military agencies powerful new tools to dismantle their operations.
Attorney General: “Inflection Point in How We Prosecute”
Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a statement to Fox News Digital, hailed the move as a landmark in the battle against international criminal syndicates operating on American soil.
“TdA is not a street gang—it is a highly structured terrorist organization that put down roots in our country during the prior administration,” Bondi said.
“Today’s charges represent an inflection point in how this Department of Justice will prosecute and ultimately dismantle this evil organization, which has destroyed American families and poisoned our communities.”
FBI Director Patel: TdA Is “A Violent Arm of the Maduro Regime”
FBI Director Kash Patel did not mince words about the scale of the threat posed by Tren de Aragua:
“Tren de Aragua is a violent arm of the Maduro regime operating inside our borders. From drug trafficking and human smuggling to brutal violence, this group has inflicted chaos on American communities,” he said.
“With these charges, we are using every available tool to confront them as the transnational threat they are. Today’s indictment is a critical step in dismantling their network and holding its members accountable.”
Legal Challenges Loom Over Deportation Efforts
Despite the sweeping power of the executive order, the Trump administration is already facing legal challenges from far-left judges seeking to block the deportation of TdA operatives under the Alien Enemies Act.
Still, this landmark prosecution signals the administration’s intent to treat criminal syndicates like Tren de Aragua with the same urgency and severity as al-Qaeda or ISIS.
About Tren de Aragua
Originating in Venezuela, Tren de Aragua has rapidly expanded across Latin America and is now deeply embedded in the United States, with ties to drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, and murder. Its known alliances with authoritarian regimes, including Nicolás Maduro’s, have made it a significant geopolitical concern as well as a domestic security threat.
This is a developing story. Updates to follow.
