A 24-year-old man identified as a senior leader within the Tren de Aragua (TdA) criminal organization is appearing in a Houston federal court today, marking the first time a member of the group has been extradited from Colombia to the United States. Jose Enrique Martinez Flores, known by the alias “Chuqui,” faces heavy charges involving terrorism support and large-scale drug trafficking.
Flores arrived in Texas following his arrest by Colombian authorities on March 31, 2025. His initial appearance is scheduled for 10 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina A. Bryan.
Federal prosecutors allege that Flores was part of the TdA inner circle, overseeing a violent portfolio of operations in Bogota that included extortion, prostitution, and murder.
The legal case against Flores centers on an indictment charging him with conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
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Additionally, he faces charges for his role in a conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in Colombia with the intent of smuggling it into the United States. Authorities believe the profits from these drug sales were funneled directly back into TdA’s criminal infrastructure.
This extradition is a key development in a broader federal crackdown. On December 16, 2025, a grand jury returned a superseding indictment that also targets three other high-level TdA figures: Yohan Jose Romero (“Johan Petrica”), Juan Gabriel Rivas Nunez (“Juancho”), and Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano (“El Viejo”). All three remain fugitives, with Mosquera Serrano currently listed on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives List.
The U.S. Department of State officially labeled TdA as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2025. Because of the severity of the charges, Flores faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million if convicted.
The investigation is being spearheaded by Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV), an initiative originally formed to dismantle MS-13 that has since been expanded to target TdA. The effort involves a massive “whole-of-government” approach, coordinating with the FBI, DEA, and Homeland Security Task Forces across multiple states.
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U.S. officials are currently offering significant rewards for information leading to the capture of the remaining leaders. A reward of up to $4 million is available for Romero, while the bounty for Mosquera Serrano reaches up to $5 million. Tips can be submitted to the FBI via WhatsApp or Telegram at 281-787-9939, or through the agency’s online portal.
The extradition was made possible through cooperation between the Colombian National Police, the Colombian Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. Under U.S. law, the charges in the indictment are allegations, and Flores is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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