Executive Summary
- A federal raid at a nightclub resulted in the arrest of 27 individuals identified by DHS as members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
- Authorities seized cocaine, three firearms, and approximately $35,000 in cash during the operation.
- Two Honduran nationals arrested in the raid now face federal charges for illegal re-entry.
- Two other individuals are reportedly under investigation for human smuggling and money laundering.
A federal operation at a north side nightclub resulted in the arrest of 27 alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The raid, conducted by federal agents executing a search warrant at the after-hours club, is part of a larger investigation into the Venezuelan gang’s activities in the area.
During the operation, law enforcement officials also seized a quantity of cocaine, three firearms, and approximately $35,000 in cash. In addition to the arrests, two individuals are currently under a separate investigation for alleged human smuggling and money laundering, authorities confirmed.
Following the raid, two detained individuals, identified as Marcos Joel Contreras-Max and Edwin Javier Chinchilla-Lopez, both Honduran nationals, appeared in federal court. They each face federal charges of illegal re-entry into the United States.
If convicted on the illegal re-entry charges, both Contreras-Max and Chinchilla-Lopez could face a maximum sentence of two years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.