Federal authorities arrested seven Tren de Aragua gang members in a Bronx apartment after tracking a GPS monitor worn by one of the suspects. The Dec. 5 raid targeted a criminal group tied to Venezuela and operating in sanctuary cities across the U.S.
The suspect wearing the monitor, 28-year-old Jarwin Valero-Calderon, has a lengthy record of arrests and deportation orders. Despite being listed as a fugitive, he evaded capture until federal agents used his court-ordered GPS device to locate the gang hideout.
The raid highlights frustrations among law enforcement over loose immigration enforcement policies. “You have to actually monitor ankle bracelets for them to work,” one law enforcement source said.
Tren de Aragua has established a foothold in several states, including New York and Colorado, taking advantage of sanctuary policies to expand its operations. The gang is known for crimes such as drug smuggling, theft, and human trafficking.
Among those arrested was 30-year-old Jesus Manuel Quintero Granado, a leader of the gang who crossed the border illegally in 2022. Another suspect, Jhonaiker Alexander Gil Cardozo, has been arrested multiple times for theft and other crimes.
The NYPD has also been tracking the gang’s juvenile branch, “Diablos de la 42,” which has carried out robberies in Times Square. Despite significant criminal records, many juvenile members remain free due to lenient state laws.
