Montana Cartel and Gang Activity: What You Need to Know

When you think of Montana, you probably picture wide-open spaces, small towns, towering mountains, and a slower pace of life. While that’s all true, Montana, like anywhere else, isn’t immune to crime.

Earlier this month in Bozeman, six alleged members of the Tren De Aragua (TdA) gang were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

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The TdA gang originated from Venezuela, specifically the state of Aragua, where it was born in the harsh confines of a prison. Since then, this group has carved a dark path through Central America, ultimately making its way into the United States.

Their criminal expertise spans some of the worst types of crimes—human smuggling, kidnapping, extortion, and drug trafficking. With a reputation for ruthlessness and a network that spans borders, the TdA gang being in our Gallatin area is unsettling.

The Gallatin Country Police Department, Missouri River Drug Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and ICE all worked together to gather intel and execute the arrests.

“They were able to identify a number of gang members that were living up here in the area. At this time, ICE decided to come down and do an operation where they did administrative warrants and took them on deportation processes,” Gallatin County Sheriff Dan Springer

While these six gang members are off the streets, reports indicate that other cartel and gang activity remains on the radar of the Gallatin County Police Department, which continues to actively investigate and address the issue.

As we’ve said before, crime can’t be completely eliminated—especially as the population grows—but this operation marks a significant victory for our community and a big step to make our area safer.

Credit: KBZK, news.mt.gov