A concerning report has emerged about a potential human trafficking operation linked to the notorious Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua in New York City. According to a New York Post exposé, investigators from the NYPD are probing the situation in the Queens neighborhood known as the “Market of Sweethearts.”
Eyewitnesses claim to have spotted several prostitutes in the area over the past few days. Two men, dressed in the gang’s signature colors – black, red, and white attire often featuring Chicago Bulls logos – were reportedly seen monitoring the women. This raises suspicions that the gang may be involved in pimping.
Advocates for victims of sex trafficking, including Taina Bien-Aime, leader of the Coalition Against Sex Trafficking in Women, have come forward to share disturbing accounts. Bien-Aime revealed that women in the city’s migrant shelters are being recruited by gang members, and one such victim was allegedly forced to meet a daily quota of $1,000. If these targets were not met, the pimps resorted to violence or refused to provide food.
Bien-Aime and fellow advocates stress that targeting sex buyers is crucial in combating human trafficking. They believe that without buyers, the demand for sex would disappear. A retired vice-squad detective corroborated this assertion, stating that gang members lure women into prostitution by promising them legitimate jobs, such as restaurant work. The detective lamented the dire situation, as the women are often coerced into this situation.
Historically, the MS-13 gang and Sureños have dominated the area, but Tren de Aragua is now vying for control. A former official attributed the escalation to the de Blasio era, which he believes opened the floodgates for human trafficking.
According to data from the Department of Homeland Security, at least 600 Venezuelan migrants associated with the Tren de Aragua gang are living across the United States. This information comes on the heels of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’s border policy, which has welcomed millions of migrants into American communities.
A nonprofit organization, Exodus Cry, echoes the sentiments of advocates, stating that prostitution is not a job, but a form of violence against those sold for sex. Their assertion is supported by research and testimonies from survivors.
