Portland Police Chief Bob Day confirmed Friday that Moncada and Zambrano-Contreras do appear to have connections to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that began in a prison and has since expanded internationally. “They do have some nexus to involvement with TdA,” Day said. “We can confirm that.”
Day said a “self-identified Venezuelan immigrant” who was the victim of a July shooting told police the suspects were members of the gang. He did not name Moncada or Zambrano-Contreras as a suspect in the July shooting, or offer further details about how the two were involved. Day also said that ZambrMore...ano-Contreras had been cited for prostitution in Washington County, and that Moncada was on hand when police served a warrant in that case.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released the identities of two Venezuelan nationals shot by Border Patrol agents in Portland Thursday afternoon. They’re identified as Luis David Nico Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras.
DHS said in a statement that the pair are affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang in Venezuela and had criminal histories in the U.S.
OPB could not immediately confirm the allegations.
The Portland Police Bureau had no comment on the federal government’s allegations. As of Friday morning, no federal charges had been filed against Moncada or Zambrano-Contreras.
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