Federal authorities have arrested two Venezuelan nationals in connection with an international drug distribution conspiracy. The individuals, identified as Jesus Miguel Barreto Lezama and Briley Jesus Ballera Farias, are accused members of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) organization. This group has recently been classified as a foreign terrorist entity. Their arrests are linked to a broader drug trafficking operation involving cocaine imports from Venezuela and Colombia into the United States.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei disclosed that both men were apprehended on federal charges in different locations. Barreto Lezama was detained in Houston, while Ballera Farias, also known as Derek, was arrested in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on January 29, details an alleged conspiracy to import more than five kilograms of cocaine into the U.S. Additionally, Barreto Lezama faces charges of importing nearly five kilograms of cocaine from Colombia during a specific period in mid-2024.
If convicted, the defendants could face a life sentence in federal prison, along with a potential fine of up to $10 million.
The investigation has been a collaborative effort involving the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Colombian National Police among others. FBI-Houston’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force, with support from multiple law enforcement agencies, was instrumental in executing the arrests.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey N. MacDonald and Anibal J. Alaniz, alongside Trial Attorney David C. Smith, are overseeing the prosecution.
This case is part of "Operation Take Back America," aiming to combat illegal immigration and dismantle transnational drug organizations. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), created initially to target MS-13 and now expanded to include TdA. This task force coordinates efforts from various U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide, including several federal agencies, in its mission.
Authorities emphasize that an indictment is merely a formal accusation, with all defendants presumed innocent until proven guilty.