San Antonio authorities arrested over a dozen individuals suspected of ties to the notorious Venezuelan gang "Tren de Aragua." The sting operation, dubbed "Operation Aurora," was the latest episode of the crackdown on the organization, which governor Abbott declared a foreign terrorist group back in September.
On Wednesday, a bombshell report by The New York Post revealed that a member of the organization, arrested earlier in the week in Houston, was seeking to recruit middle school students in the area.
The report, which cites federal law enforcement, claims that Jorgenys Robertson Cova, a 32-year old Venezuelan migrant who was apprehended for theft, was trying to contact students at Jane Long Academy and Las Americas.
The goal was to train them for a large-scale shoplifting ring across the city. Authorities believe Cova sought to enlist the students due to the limited legal consequences they face when caught.
Cova is a confirmed member of the Tren de Aragua. He was identified by Houston authorities for his tattoos commonly associated with the gang, including a five-point crown and a clock symbolizing time spent in prison.
Former U.S. Marshal Robert Almonte told the Post that such recruitment tactics resemble those used by drug cartels, which often exploit minors with promises of lenient penalties if arrested:
"That brings back memories of how the cartels like to operate and use school students to drive load vehicles across the border. And the reason they do that is they tell these juveniles, 'look, you get caught but nothing is going to happen. You're going get a slap on the wrist,' which is pretty much true."
Homeland Security sources also told the Post that the gang prioritizes recruiting at-risk teenagers, often from fatherless homes, offering money and a sense of belonging. Texas authorities apprehended Cova after learning of his presence in the Houston area and discovering an outstanding warrant for theft in Pearland, Texas.
Cova's criminal history in the U.S. began in July 2022, when he illegally crossed the border at Eagle Pass, Texas. Released under the supervision of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), he later failed to comply with their orders and missed an asylum interview. He subsequently led a theft ring across Houston, Dallas, and Arizona, targeting high-end stores and amassing large quantities of stolen merchandise.
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