Attorney General of the United States Pam Bondi announced Tuesday that the Justice Department has brought RICO charges against more than two dozen alleged current and former members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, marking the first time the federal government has used the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act against a foreign-based criminal organization.

Bondi made the announcement alongside Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Matthew Podolsky.

A total of 27 individuals were indicted on a series of federal charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking conspiracy, drug trafficking conspiracy, robbery, and firearms offenses. Many of those charged are believed to be part of an offshoot faction known as “Anti-Tren.”

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“This is a milestone case,” said Bondi.

“As alleged, Tren de Aragua is not just a street gang — it is a highly structured terrorist organization that has destroyed American families with brutal violence, engaged in human trafficking, and spread deadly drugs through our communities. Today’s indictments and arrests span three states and will devastate TdA’s infrastructure as we work to completely dismantle and purge this organization from our country.”

The RICO Act, which was initially developed to target organized crime syndicates like the mafia, is being deployed in this case against a foreign criminal enterprise involved in transnational operations.

It is the first known application of RICO statutes against a foreign gang with ties to terrorism and narcotics trafficking, according to the Daily Wire.

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The Justice Department confirmed that the gang’s presence has been expanding in U.S. cities, with particularly strong activity in New York.

Law enforcement officials say that cells of the organization have been identified in the boroughs of Queens and the Bronx, where they have been tied to a pattern of violent crimes.

“Tren de Aragua is one of the most dangerous gangs in the country, and the NYPD has taken significant action to shut down their operations in New York City,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

“For the first time ever, TdA is being named and charged as the criminal enterprise that it is. This isn’t just street crime — it’s organized racketeering, and this gang has shown zero regard for the safety of New Yorkers.”

Of the 27 people charged in the indictment, federal authorities confirmed that 21 are currently in custody.

This includes five individuals who were apprehended during coordinated operations on Monday and Tuesday.

Six suspects remain at large and are being actively sought by federal and local law enforcement.

Tren de Aragua, originally formed within the Venezuelan prison system, has gained international notoriety for its use of extreme violence and involvement in cross-border crimes, including human smuggling, extortion, and drug distribution.

Officials have expressed concern that the gang’s operations have taken root in areas across the U.S., exploiting the nation’s immigration vulnerabilities and overburdened law enforcement systems.

Attorney General Bondi emphasized that the federal government would continue its efforts to dismantle and prosecute international gangs that pose a threat to American communities.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with information on the remaining suspects to come forward.

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