Authorities say that around a hundred persons were arrested during a Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) operation that was coordinated with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Among those arrested were a known Tren de Aragua gang member and a convicted child sex predator.
According to a THP news release, 94 persons were apprehended by ICE during the operation for additional investigation and transportation.
ICE reports that a number of contacts involving suspected gang members, including affiliates of Tren de Aragua, resulted in the discovery of illicit firearms and drugs.
THP observed that four individuals were wanted for felonies, two were arrested for drug offenses, one was detained for endangering the safety of a child, and two were arrested for driving under the influence during over 370 traffic violation stops.
The release stated that Tennessee troopers are continuing to assist with a coordinated public safety effort that is centered on traffic enforcement at ICE’s request.
The job of THP is to monitor driving patterns and make legal stops when Tennessee traffic rules are broken.
According to federal law, ICE conducted separate investigations in the cases involving individuals who were discovered to be in the country illegally.
“THP’s role is to enforce Tennessee traffic laws fairly and consistently, and our troopers continue to make lawful stops, based solely on traffic infractions, in an effort [to] keep Tennesseans safe,” the Tennessee State Patrol stated in its announcement. “We do not enter neighborhoods or stop vehicles based on who someone is – we stop based on what they do behind the wheel.”
According to the announcement, the very successful operation involved fewer than a dozen soldiers.
