TBI names major cities in Tenn. infiltrated by violent Venezuelan gang

Tonight, in Operation Crime and Justice, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) reveals more details about the Venezuelan gang that is moving into some of Tennessee’s largest cities. TBI Director David Rausch expanded on the issue today, responding to public outrage following a FOX 17 News report this week.

The Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, has been seen in all four of our major cities, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation: Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga and Memphis. TBI Director David Rausch went into detail with Fox and Friends early this morning.

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He later posted a seven-minute video on YouTube to elaborate on these concerns. Rausch says, “We know they are a very violent group of individuals. They have shown their violence in areas across the country, specifically handling and addressing pastures that they believe they should own.”

The agency warns that this violent criminal group will stop at nothing. Rausch adds, “We know they’re taking on the cartel. They haven’t held back in letting the cartels know they’re going to take them on and they’re going to fight for the drug trafficking communities.” Rausch says they are not afraid of the police.

Rausch states, “They are violent toward law enforcement. So they will fight and they will attack the police; they have no respect for law enforcement.” Rausch says the TBI wants law enforcement partners to be prepared for these meetings. They will issue information through police organisations, including details of who they are, how to identify them and how to approach or deal with them.

Ken Alexandrow says, “We know they practice. We know they train,” with TDA originating in a Venezuelan prison. Former police officer Ken Alexandrow says it’s a communal haven where criminals feed off each other. Says Alexandrow, “They’re getting ready for when they’re released; they just want to do what they did before, just do it better.”

TBI says this isn’t just a Tennessee problem; this is not a unique situation and this criminal group has been seen across the nation. The TBI director says we’re not at the point where everyone needs to look outside their homes, but it’s a concern for law enforcement that they’re active and back in Tennessee.

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