BOISE, Idaho — Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue took to social media Wednesday to correct national media reports claiming the Venezuelan gang known as Tren de Aragua is operating in southwest Idaho.
The sheriff posted a statement to Facebook and issued a news release describing what he calls a misleading graphic or map seen on national media outlets that shows the gang in Canyon County.
Here is Sheriff Donahue's full statement:
I've been made aware that certain national media outlets are broadcasting a map/graphic that shows the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is operating in Canyon County.
I want to make it clear that this graphic is misleading. I did an interview with a national reporter in August, during which we spoke about TdA and its presence in the West, where they have been tied to confirmed criminal activity in Utah and Colorado.
I told the reporter about intelligence I had received regarding TdA traveling across Idaho to commit crimes, but I did not state that TdA was operating or committing crimes in Canyon County.
Thankfully, to my knowledge, there have been no confirmed reports of TdA activity in Canyon County or elsewhere in the Treasure Valley.
That said, I believe that TdA is a very dangerous gang, and national reports show they are growing rapidly, so it stands to reason we will eventually see them in Idaho.