The United States and Canada have signed a historic agreement to challenge the Venezuelan Tren de Agua (TdA) gang. The agreement, signed by Interpol Washington Director Jeffrey A. Grimming and National Central Bureau Ottawa Director Marie-Josee Homsy declares that the U.S. and Canada will work together to strengthen law enforcement.
TdA has had an increased presence across both countries.
The agreement “enhances the ability of INTERPOL Washington and NCB Ottawa to combat TdA through robust information sharing, coordinated law enforcement support, and strengthened border security efforts,” the press release from INTERPOL explained.
“Today, we have taken a great leap forward in our fight to eradicate TdA in the United States,” Grimming said. “By bringing our combined law enforcement resources to bear, the United States and Canada have ensured that TdA will find no safe harbor in either of our nations. Together, as partners, we will work in lockstep to disrupt and dismantle TdA and remove their violent criminal operatives from our communities.”
“Tackling Transnational Criminal Organizations like TdA requires transnational cooperation,” Homsy stated.
“These groups threaten security and stability across the Americas. This signing is an example of the strong collaboration that takes place between Canadian and American authorities every day – as well as the power and reach of INTERPOL capabilities,” the Canadian official continued. “By working together, we can dismantle criminal networks, protect our communities, and reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law.”
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on January 20 that designates various groups as criminal and terrorist organizations.
“Other transnational organizations, such as Tren de Aragua (TdA) and La Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) pose similar threats to the United States. Their campaigns of violence and terror in the United States and internationally are extraordinarily violent, vicious, and similarly threaten the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere,” the order read.
