Amid concerns raised by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) over the presence of Venezuelan gangs in the state, Memphis Police Department's Interim Chief CJ Davis has dispelled fears locally, stating that they "haven't seen anything that would cause any concern about Venezuelan gangs," during a Memphis City Council meeting, WREG reports. Davis acknowledged two incidents involving Venezuelans, yet assured there was no substantial gang activity in Memphis.
While TBI Director David Rausch informed Governor Bill Lee of the gang called “Tren de Aragua” re-establishing roots in Tennessee cities, the Memphis Police Department have experienced limited interactions with the gang, including finding graffiti last year and an arrest by ICE this year, neither tied to current gang operations in the area, as per information FOX13 Memphis obtained. TBI recently reported an arrest in Chattanooga for human trafficking but this isolated incident does not reflect city-wide concerns in Memphis.
The TBI's warning drew attention to a potential spread of criminal activities by "Tren de Aragua," including human trafficking and possibly, drug dealing and violence. However, agencies around the state including MPD, have not reported significant interaction with the gang. Acknowledging the complexities of intelligence gathering, Rausch commented that gaps in information sharing might account for the discrepancies between TBI's warnings and local law enforcement observations, Action News 5 lays out.
In contrast to statewide concerns, the City of Memphis is monitoring an array of 48 other gangs known to operate within its limits, Davis reassured that residents need not worry about Venezuelan gangs at this juncture, although the department will "keep our eye on it," collaborating closely with the TBI to stay informed on developments, she told the WREG in the ongoing assessment of the gang landscape in Memphis.
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