FBI SWOOPS on Notorious Gang Behind Turf War

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In the largest-ever FBI takedown of the notorious Anti-Tren gang, federal agents arrested 16 members in Houston, marking a major victory in the violent migrant turf war that has plagued Texas communities since the border crisis began.

Key Takeaways

  • The FBI has arrested 16 members of the Anti-Tren gang in Houston, with 14 facing conspiracy charges for distributing over 5 kilograms of cocaine and two facing weapons charges.
  • Anti-Tren is comprised primarily of former members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), which has expanded across Latin America and into the U.S. with over 4,000 members.
  • The arrests are connected to violent crimes including a mass shooting at a Houston sports bar in March 2025 that injured six people.
  • The operation is part of President Trump’s “Operation Take Back America,” aimed at combating transnational criminal organizations that flourished during the border crisis.
  • If convicted, those charged with drug offenses face up to life imprisonment and a $10 million fine, while firearms offenses could result in up to 15 years in prison.

FBI Strikes Major Blow Against Venezuelan Gang Network

Federal authorities have executed their most significant operation yet against the Anti-Tren gang, arresting 16 members in Houston as part of the escalating effort to dismantle violent migrant criminal organizations. The operation targeted a criminal network formed by former members of the larger Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang, which originated in Venezuela but has since spread throughout Latin America and into multiple U.S. states. This crackdown represents a critical step in President Trump’s renewed border security strategy, addressing the criminal elements that established footholds during the migration surge.

“These arrests are the largest takedown of suspected Anti-Tren members and associates by the FBI, so far, and they happened right here in Houston. These individuals are accused of engaging in a turf war with TdA members and carrying out numerous violent crimes throughout our city, including a mass shooting at a local sports bar that left six people wounded. Fortunately, for the good and safety of our community, these individuals are now in federal custody facing U.S. justice,” said Douglass Williams, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Houston Field Office.

Houston Bar Shooting Triggers Major Enforcement Action

The investigation intensified following a shooting at Latinas Sports Bar in Houston in March 2025, where six people were injured. Jose Miguel Briceno, identified as a Venezuelan illegal immigrant, has been charged with unlawful possession of ammunition in connection with this attack. This incident highlighted the violent turf war between Anti-Tren and Tren de Aragua, two Venezuelan criminal organizations competing for territory and control of drug trafficking operations in Texas. Of the 16 individuals arrested, 14 face charges for conspiracy to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine, while two others face separate weapons charges.

“The Southern District’s twin priorities are securing our border and the eradication of violent crime. This case implicates both,” stated U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been working alongside the FBI in this investigation, focusing on dismantling the cocaine distribution network that provides financial support for the gang’s operations. Court documents reveal that Anti-Tren has established a significant presence in Houston, operating drug distribution networks that extend throughout Texas and potentially to other states. The severity of the charges reflects the substantial quantities of narcotics involved, with convicted defendants potentially facing decades in federal prison.

Expanding Venezuelan Gang Presence Prompts National Response

The FBI’s campaign against Anti-Tren comes as part of a broader strategy to combat Tren de Aragua, which has grown into a transnational threat. The FBI recently placed a $3 million bounty on Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, the alleged second-in-command of TdA. The parent organization originated in Venezuela’s Tocorón Prison under leader Héctor Rutherford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero,” and has since become the first Venezuelan criminal group to successfully expand internationally with an estimated membership exceeding 4,000 individuals.

“Anti-Tren is a criminal organization almost exclusively comprised of former members and associates of Tren de Aragua (TdA),” explained the U.S. Attorney’s Office in their statement on the arrests.

President Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization, enabling enhanced enforcement actions. This designation has provided law enforcement with additional tools to target both TdA and its offshoot Anti-Tren. The current operation forms part of the Department of Justice’s “Operation Take Back America,” described as “a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.”

Criminal Penalties and Ongoing Enforcement

The defendants in the Anti-Tren case face severe consequences if convicted. Those charged with drug trafficking conspiracy could receive sentences of up to life imprisonment and fines reaching $10 million. The firearms charges carry potential penalties of up to 15 years in federal prison. Federal prosecutors have indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues to uncover the full extent of the organization’s criminal activities in Houston and beyond.

Immigration officials have been working in coordination with the FBI to identify and arrest suspected gang members, though detailed information about charges beyond immigration violations has been limited until this major operation. Harris County prosecutors previously identified two Venezuelan men accused of murder as TdA members based on their tattoos and clothing, demonstrating the ongoing challenge of identifying gang affiliations. The Trump administration has intensified efforts to target these criminal networks, with recent announcements confirming the arrest of over 2,700 alleged TdA members across the United States.

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