A confirmed Tren de Aragua gang member and illegal alien, Jorgenys Robertson Cova, 32, has been taken into custody in Houston by the Texas Department of Public Safety. According to ICE, Cova is in the United States illegally from Venezuela. The investigation was a joint effort between ICE, Texas DPS, and the Houston Police Department.
Tren de Aragua is a transnational gang with operations in Venezuela and the United States, specializing in drug and sex trafficking. It is estimated to have around 5,000 members spread between the two countries.
Cova's arrest came after a DPS Special Agent assigned to the Houston Texas Anti-Gang Center (TAG) received information about a suspected Tren de Aragua member residing in Houston in late September. Cova, who was identified as the suspect, was due for an asylum hearing in Houston on Oct. 7.
Investigators confirmed Cova's affiliation with Tren de Aragua based on his tattoos, which bore recognizable gang symbols including a five-point crown, a clock, and roses on his arms. Cova was initially wanted in Pearland, Texas, for theft and was apprehended without any resistance.
Law enforcement agencies nationwide are increasingly concerned about the criminal activities of Tren de Aragua, which include drug offenses, illegal possession of firearms, theft, and more. The gang has been linked to criminal incidents in various states such as Colorado, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Texas.
Currently, Cova is being held at the Brazoria County Jail. The Texas Department of Public Safety has not yet responded to requests for further comments on the matter.
