The Justice Department said Thursday that the highest-ranking member of Tren de Aragua ever extradited to the United States has arrived in Houston and is scheduled to appear in federal court on May 15.
Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, 24, also known as Chuqui, was arrested on March 31 in Colombia on a warrant requested by the U.S. government. Federal prosecutors describe him as a high-ranking leader of the gang in Bogota and a member of the inner circle of senior Tren de Aragua leadership. Prosecutors allege he oversaw criminal activities in Colombia including drug trafficking, extortion, prostitution, and murder.
Flores faces one count of conspiring to provide material support to Tren de Aragua, one count of providing material support to the organization, and federal drug charges alleging involvement in a conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in Colombia intended for the United States market. He faces up to life in prison and a possible $10 million fine.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the extradition was a direct result of the current administration's approach to the gang. "Today's extradition sends a clear message: under President Trump's leadership, foreign terrorist organizations like Tren de Aragua will be hunted down and brought to justice," Patel said in a statement. He added, "This is the highest ranking TdA member we've ever brought to justice."
The Trump administration's State Department designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist on February 20. The extradition of Flores follows the administration's filing of its first racketeering charges against TdA members in April, which included allegations of conspiring to commit murder, sex trafficking, assault, and drug dealing.
Flores is also named alongside Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, 38, who appears on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, in the cocaine distribution conspiracy charges. In December, a federal grand jury in Houston returned a second superseding indictment charging three other TdA leaders: Yohan Jose Romero, 48, Juan Gabriel Rivas Nunez, 45, and Mosquera Serrano.
Flores was set to make his initial appearance in a Houston federal courtroom on May 15.
