(The Center Square) – A new Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF-South Texas) is making major arrests in San Antonio and south Texas targeting transnational criminal organizations and foreign terrorist organizations (FTO).
Its latest major bust was at an illicit nightclub in San Antonio “known to be frequented” by members of Tren de Aragua, which was designated as an FTO earlier this year.
They arrested more than 150 illegal foreign nationals, including 27 suspected TdA members, two suspects already under investigation by Homeland Security Investigations for human smuggling and money laundering, and one under DEA investigation for cocaine trafficking. They also seized cocaine, firearms and approximately $35,000 in cash.
The majority arrested are citizens of Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico and other South American countries who were all living in the U.S. illegally. They remain in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody.
The Department of Homeland Security highlighted key arrests of Venezuelan nationals and suspected TdA members, noting they all illegally entered the U.S. during the Biden administration even after some were previously deported.
Their criminal history includes convictions for larceny and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault with a weapon as well as arrests for theft and illegal reentry, DHS said.
“In close collaboration with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we are dedicated to dismantling the cartels and criminal networks responsible for violent crime, human trafficking, and drug smuggling with the ultimate goal of preserving the safety and security of the communities we serve,” FBI San Antonio Acting Special Agent in Charge Alex Doran said.
HSTF-South Texas is comprised of investigators from field offices throughout Texas working for the FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Marshals Service, ATF, CBP, Border Patrol, the U.S. attorney’s office for the southern and western districts of Texas, the IRS, U.S. Coast Guard, Texas DPS, and South Texas-HIDTA.
HSTFs were formed nationwide in response to an executive order President Donald Trump issued on his first day in office: “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.”
Their priority is to target “sophisticated cartels, foreign terrorist organizations, and transnational gangs whose list of crimes include homicide, kidnapping, human trafficking, extortion, smuggling drugs across our borders, and money laundering.”
Fourteen state, local, and federal agencies were involved in the San Antonio operation, which “would not have been possible without the support of the Texas Department of Public Safety, whose work on the underlying state case led to the search warrant executed during the operation,” HSTF said.
“By enhancing coordination, HSI and its law enforcement partners will focus on dismantling drug cartels and terrorist organizations to protect communities nationwide,” HSI San Antonio Acting Special Agent in Charge Mark Lippa said. “This collaborative initiative underscores our steadfast dedication to ensuring the safety and security of America.”
Earlier this year, HSTF-South Texas members were involved in an investigation that led to a superseding indictment brought last month against a Utah father and son. They were indicted for conspiring to materially support a Mexican cartel and FTO by engaging in oil theft in south Texas as well as money laundering and related smuggling charges, The Center Square reported. The indictment includes a notice of criminal forfeiture of approximately 77,000 barrels of crude oil, $2.5 million in funds, and a $300 million money judgment.
In October, HSTF-South Texas members made a major weapons bust in the Laredo area before they were trafficked to Mexico. They intercepted 534 firearms, 31,482 rounds of ammunition, 525 magazines, 40 scopes, four lasers, 10 rifle slings and other related items.
Two men were charged on multiple firearms counts, including smuggling firearms, ammunition, magazines, firearms accessories and firearms trafficking.
HSTF efforts in other states have led to the arrests of multiple FTO members, including dozens of MS-13 members in California and Tennessee. A new Kansas City HSTF operating in Iowa, Kanas, Missouri and Nebraska has already arrested high profile TdA and MS-13 targets, The Center Square reported.
