Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said his office and the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) are aware of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua’s “presence” within the city; however, he refused to provide specific information regarding arrests or activity related to the gang.
On Tuesday, O’Connell was pressed by Fox 17 reporter Kylie Walker on his knowledge of the Venezuelan gang’s presence in Nashville after a member of the same gang was arrested in Hamilton County on human trafficking charges the day prior.
O’Connell said, “What I will say is [MNPD] Chief Drake has advised us, I mean even before the TBI report, we knew they were active in Tennessee. MNPD has a very active and successful gang unit and they have continually monitored that activity.”
“I know that MNPD is aware of their presence in Tennessee and they’re monitoring what the situation looks like in Nashville,” the mayor added, not providing specific information on arrests or other intelligence.
Monday’s arrest of the Tren de Aragua gang member comes after the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) publicly revealed earlier this month that the Venezuelan gang is present in all of Tennessee’s “major cities” and warned the group is engaged in human trafficking, organized retail theft, and drug trafficking nationwide.