EXCLUSIVE: Tren de Aragua gang members busted in Portland after fleeing Chicago ICE crackdown

Several illegal aliens involved with the Tren de Aragua terror group were apprehended in Portland, Oregon, during a high-risk operation involving the illicit sales of drugs, firearms, and ammunition. The suspects, who were originally residing in Chicago, are believed to have moved to Portland just over a month ago in response to immigration enforcement operations increasing in the Windy City, federal investigators say.

US Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) breached a Portland apartment unit the group was suspected of using as a "stash house" on October 24, taking the ringleader into custody, along with seven other accomplices, all of whom are illegally present in the United States and have suspected ties to Tren de Aragua, according to authorities.

This comes as the city of Portland and the state of Oregon recommit to their status as sanctuaries for illegal immigrants in the face of the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal migration, which has resulted in more than four months of ongoing attacks on the Portland ICE facility by anti-ICE protesters, many of whom are affiliated with Antifa networks.

Roberth Jose Hernandez Garcia, of Venezuela, who uses the alias “Zurdo,” a self-proclaimed Tren de Aragua gang member and ringleader of the group, was taken into custody on charges including distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy, attempted bank larceny, firearms trafficking, alien in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition, according to court documents. He reportedly admitted to several crimes while under interrogation.


Pictured: Roberth Jose Hernandez Garcia

 

In September, ATF Denver and DEA Cheyenne agents notified DEA Portland agents about suspected Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang members operating in the Portland area.

Investigators believe that these TdA members had been operating in Chicago before immigration enforcement activities began, and that they then relocated to the Portland, Oregon area just over a month ago, according to court records. Portland, like Chicago, is a sanctuary city.

On September 30, the DEA started to conduct a series of undercover operations using a confidential source, also known as an informant, which resulted in Hernandez Garcia’s capture in late October.

The confidential source had contacted Hernandez Garcia to arrange a controlled substance purchase of two ounces of “2C,” which is a powder street drug that causes hallucinogenic effects and has a history of testing positive for cocaine, fentanyl, ketamine, MDMA, and methamphetamine.

Hernandez Garcia arrived at the meeting location in the Portland area and gave the confidential source the illicit substance in exchange for an undisclosed sum. According to court documents, “DEA agents observed a Hispanic male (Hernandez Garcia) in a white hoodie walk away from a dark blue Toyota Corolla bearing Florida registration…and immediately walk up to [confidential source].”

The Toyota Corolla is registered to a male subject identified as Robert Jose Vasquez Garcia, who is also a Venezuelan suspected Tren de Aragua gang member unlawfully present in the US, court records show.

On October 6, Oregon US District Court Judge Jeffrey Armistead issued a search warrant authorizing the collection of geolocation data for Hernandez Garcia’s phone, which was then used to track his whereabouts.

DEA agents set up another undercover operation on October 9, in which Hernandez Garcia sold the confidential source MDMA pills, 2C powder, and Molly powder in the Portland area. Once again, Hernandez Garcia had arrived at the buy site in the Toyota Corolla driven by Vasquez Garcia.

Federal authorities trailed the Toyota Corolla after the TdA members left the location. The vehicle arrived at Hernandez Garcia’s residence located at 637 SE 182nd Avenue in Portland, Oregon. The pair entered the apartment building, and surveillance concluded.

On October 15, Oregon US District Court Judge Youlee Yim You authorized a tracker to be placed on the Toyota. However, the DEA agents did not place the tracker on the Toyota because Hernandez Garcia and his accomplices began driving a Honda Civic, according to court documents.

A third undercover operation was conducted on October 16, which included Hernandez Garcia selling the confidential source a firearm, magazines, and ammunition. DEA and ATF agents witnessed Hernandez Garcia leave his apartment in Portland with three other Hispanic males in a Honda Civic, which arrived at the buy site. The purchased firearm was reported stolen out of Chicago. After the exchange, federal agents followed the Honda Civic to an apartment complex in Gresham, Oregon.

Hernandez Garcia then returned to his Portland apartment in the Honda Civic. Agents observed another Hispanic male, Franco Jose Strozzieri Monte, at the trunk of the car and then entered Hernandez Garcia’s unit.  Strozzieri Monte was the driver during the October 16 firearms sale, court records show.

During surveillance at Hernandez Garcia’s residence, agents determined that it was likely a stash house for illicit substances and firearms, and observed upwards of six individuals coming and going from the residence.

On October 24, US Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) breached Hernandez Garcia’s residence upon the execution of a high-risk search warrant and took him into custody, along with seven other Venezuelan illegal aliens who were inside the unit at the time. 

During a post-arrest interview, Hernandez Garcia allegedly admitted to robbing an ATM machine with his TdA crew the night prior, October 23, in Newport, Oregon. Court documents state that at least ten recent thefts or attempted thefts from ATMs that are factually similar are currently under federal investigation.

The Post Millennial exclusively reported earlier this year that the individuals accused of plotting the attempted killing of a Seattle-area woman in January, who was kidnapped, tortured, and shot, were also Venezuelan nationals with ties to TdA who had been living in a taxpayer-funded community home in Lake Oswego, Oregon, at the time. Lake Oswego is a city located adjacent to Portland.

In recent years, the city of Portland has been plagued by the illicit drug crisis, which has led to a significant increase in crime, thousands of fatalities, and a mass exodus of businesses.

This investigation involved several law enforcement agencies, including the ATF, DEA, FBI, Portland Police Bureau, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), who are investigating a variety of crimes allegedly committed by TdA members in Oregon.

Members of the public can report immigration-related crimes or suspicious activity by calling (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.