Since being confirmed as FBI director earlier this year, Kash Patel has made going after foreign gangs a key part of his agency's agenda.

Evidence of Patel's focus came this week when the FBI announced a major takedown of a Venezuelan criminal organization. 

Group is an offshoot of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang

According to Breitbart, a task force made up of the FBI along with a number of other federal and state law enforcement agencies has secured the arrest of 16 people in Texas.

The individuals in question are alleged to be members of "Anti-Tren," which is described as being an offshoot of Tren de Aragua (TdA).

FBI Makes ‘Largest Takedown‘ of Anti-Tren Gang Members in Texas Roundup https://t.co/kXXa8uuKN3

— BreitbartTexas (@BreitbartTexas) July 2, 2025

President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organization that is "conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States."

"TdA is closely aligned with, and indeed has infiltrated, the Maduro regime, including its military and law enforcement apparatus," the proclamation noted.

TdA and Anti-Tren accused of committing similar crimes

Breitbart cited a U.S. Department of State who said the criminal activity typically pursued by Anti-Tren is the same as that which TdA engages in.

"Similar to TdA, purposes of Anti-Tren allegedly include preserving and protecting the power and territory of the organization and its members and associates through attempted murder, other acts of violence, and threats of such," the official was quoted as saying.

A press release put out by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas explained that the arrested individuals face charges tied to drug trafficking and weapons offenses.

They include Luis Miguel Claros Sarmiento, 26, Dany E. Rojas, 28, Ismael Leon Belbin, 24, Andy Luis Alvarez Herrera, 28, Cesar Oskeiber Cabezas Pacheco, 26, and Cesar Mauricio Velasquez, 27; Venezuelan nationals Raul Armando Ramirez Correa, 24, Darwin Martinez, 37, Peter Davila, 34, Otis Jose Rodriguez Garcia, 31, Pedro Hernandez Delgado, 19, Jesus F. Fernandez Troconiz, 26, Embeer J. Gutierrez Ternawskyj, 24, as well as Raul Antonio Claros Sarmiento, 30, of Honduras.

FBI agent touts "largest takedown of suspected Anti-Tren members"

Special Agent in Charge Douglas Williams serves in the FBI Houston Field Office, and he touted the arrests in a statement.

"These arrests are the largest takedown of suspected Anti-Tren members and associates by the FBI, so far, and they happened right here in Houston," Williams noted.

"These individuals are accused of engaging in a turf war with TdA members and carrying out numerous violent crimes throughout our city, including a mass shooting at a local sports bar that left six people wounded," he stressed.