Earlier this month, The Dallas Express shared information from law enforcement officials who verified that an empty apartment complex in San Antonio had been taken over by the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, using it as a hub for criminal operations.
Now, it seems that the scenario has worsened.
On October 5, Chief McManus provided an update on the multi-agency investigative operation at the Palatia Apartments, saying, “We had information that members of the transnational gang, Tren de Aragua, were in control of the area and committing various crimes.”
Known as the ‘epitome of evil,’ Tren de Aragua is notorious for operating drug smuggling, child prostitution, and human trafficking networks in South America. Its presence in the U.S. has skyrocketed alongside a surge of Venezuelan migrants.
The recent raid by over 100 law enforcement officers in the early hours of October 5 was preceded by several weeks of investigation into reports of gang activity in the area.
McManus stated that the agencies cleared nearly 300 vacant apartments at the complex and arrested 19 individuals, confirming four Tren de Aragua gang members were in custody. One of the gang members is a “confirmed enforcer,” added McManus.
San Antonio police reports indicate that in the past year leading up to the raid, the apartment complex’s address on Sahara Drive near U.S. Highway 281 and San Pedro Avenue received approximately 1,500 calls for service. This figure includes more than 140 reports of gunfire, 14 incidents of burglary, and 12 ongoing assault cases, reported KSAT.com.
“Even though we finished here at the complex, we are not done,” stressed McManus.
As of October 16, three more apartment complexes have reportedly been taken over by the Tren de Aragua, per DailyMail.com. However, the names of these buildings have not been disclosed as the law enforcement investigation is ongoing.
In an area just north of the Migrant Resource Center in San Antonio, Tren de Aragua has established a presence in South Texas. The shelter has documented over 60,000 migrants from Venezuela since July 2022, making Venezuelan immigrants the largest group by country of origin.
