Daily alerts, notifications, and stories from Tren De Aragua activity on X. Send tips, stories, or articles to @TDATracker247
Dec 24 • 7 tweets • 8 min read
Tren de Aragua & Al-Qaeda Linked Groups -
Following up on the article that was first distributed by the Wall Street Journal.
“Venezuela Gangs and African Jihadists Drive Europe’s Cocaine”
A topic that has long been a point of discussion on this page, the connections that Transnational Criminal Organizations have to well-known terrorism networks abroad.
If you read the article in question, it leaves a lot of gaps in the convergence of these groups, and how we have arrived at this point. Not being critical of the authors, but there is a deeper connection that needs to be examined.
Earlier this fall, Policy Center for the New South released their report on the convergence of cartels and Jihadist in West Africa. The report goes into detail on how far this relationship goes back. In 2017, it was noted that the Sinaloa Cartel had established routes and markets into Africa with the help of AQ-linked networks.
So, who are these AQ-linked networks, and why are they working narco-trafficking groups?
Islamic Terror Groups -
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) – West Africa
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is a terrorist group based in Mali and active across much of West Africa, including parts of Burkina Faso and Niger. It formed in March 2017, when four Mali-based extremist groups—Ansar al-Din, al-Murabitun, the Macina Liberation Front (MLF), and the Sahara Emirate subgroup of al-Qa‘ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)—announced that they had merged, formalizing cooperation among them. The leader of JNIM, Iyad ag Ghali, pledged the group’s allegiance to the amir of AQIM, to the amir of al-Qa‘ida, and to the leader of the Taliban.
Al-Shabaab – East Africa
Al-Shabaab is a Sunni Islamic terrorist group that publicly pledged loyalty to al-Qa‘ida in 2012. The group seeks to overthrow the Somali Federal Government, expel foreign forces from Somalia, and establish a fundamentalist Islamic state. Since 2014 al-Shabaab has killed more US citizens than any other al-Qa‘ida affiliate, and as of 2025, the group is al-Qa‘ida’s wealthiest component.
AQIM – North and West Africa
Al-Qa‘ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is a North Africa–based Sunni terrorist group that seeks to eliminate governments and Western influence in the region and to establish sharia (Islamic law). It has conducted attacks across North and West Africa that have killed hundreds, including Americans.
May 11 • 6 tweets • 3 min read
Thread - Tren De Aragua Narrative - Part 3
The Narrative Paradox.
By definition, a paradox is a statement that seems self-contradictory or absurd but may actually express a possible truth. It often involves two opposing ideas that coexist, leading to a surprising or counterintuitive conclusion.
In keeping with our efforts to address the narrative that is being put forth by a massive number of X accounts following the New York Times release on May 5th, 2025 "Spy Agencies Do Not Think Venezuela Directs Gang Declassified Memo Shows" from the ODNI regarding the "Sense of the Community" intelligence assessment that details the Maduro Regime in Venezuela and their lack of involvement with Tren De Aragua.
I will refer you to an official report published by another U.S. Government department, released March 2024.
The 2024 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report by the U.S. Department of State (INCSR). Published March 2024.
On Page 322 through 344 of the 355-page report, the country of Venezuela's drug activity is documented in the report. Who else in mentioned in the report? Tren De Aragua.
In the section noted Corruption by the U.S. State Department 2024 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR)
Quote - "Corruption, including among senior members of the Maduro team, judicial, military and security services, is endemic in Venezuela, facilitating drug-trafficking organizations’ operations. Armed “colectivos” allied with Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), armed Venezuelan-origin gangs, and Colombian guerilla factions dominate drug trafficking routes inside Venezuela. While these criminal organizations move most of the cocaine, it is actors within the state that shape and control the world in which they operate"
This portion above clearly emphasizes actors within the state, As in the state or country of Venezuela. That includes senior members of the Maduro team along with judicial, military, and security services.
"Tren de Aragua, the largest criminal organization in
Venezuela, with some 5,000 members, originated in Venezuela’s prison system as a result of corruption and lack of state control, and has since become influential both within and outside the prison system, continuing to recruit new members and carry out criminal operations including drug trafficking. The group has leveraged the exodus of Venezuelans due to the country’s crisis to expand its operations to
Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru, among others."
(For clarification above, the corruption and lack of state control in the prison system resulted in the origins of Tren De Aragua)
Apr 23 • 5 tweets • 4 min read
Thread - Tren De Aragua Narrative and Story.
In this thread, I'm going to chime in on the debate about the Tren De Aragua narrative.
What we knew about Tren De Aragua 10 months ago when this page started in September 2024 versus today is still true, if not more so.
The only thing that seems to have changed over time are certain elements of the Tren De Aragua story and who controls them.
For clarification, I am not the scholar on Tren De Aragua, I'm the specialist working toward the goal of being a scholar each day. However, I have written and researched enough about the TdA organization over a period of 10 months that I can weigh in on this specific topic with a calibrated level of comprehension.
The information on the TdA tracking page is aggregated from a network of sources that studied or have real world experience with the Tren De Aragua syndicate. That network includes some very intelligent people that can speak with authority on the topic.
In my own research regarding TdA, I can examine details in the media stories and find certain clues that provide insight into what is really being said and at times provide context that would otherwise be overlooked.
Which brings me to the point of this post, the article below spread like wildfire, with many X accounts claiming the current administration was wrong in its assessment on Tren De Aragua.
US intelligence contradicts Trump claims linking gang to Venezuelan government to speed deportations t.co/9DN7DuvNLU
Key points to remember about the article in question.
1. The article above was published on 4/18/25.
2. The original article from the NY Times was published March 22, 2025, and references a "document" from February 26th, 2025. nytimes.com/2025/03/20/us/…
3. We get an article based on another article from a document from February 26th, 2025, with officials speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Feb 7 • 6 tweets • 2 min read
On 1/30/25 @earlywarningnet noted a leak concerning a major ice raid in Aurora Colorado.
