Venezuelan Train of Aragua: Gang Identified by Trump as Targeted in U.S. Strike on Suspected Drug Vessel
In the heart of Venezuela, the origins of the Tren de Aragua gang can be traced back to the unions of workers who toiled on a railway project in Aragua and Carabobo states, as reported by Transparency Venezuela. Officially founded in 2014 within the Tocorón prison in Aragua, the gang has since expanded its operations to the United States.
The Tren de Aragua, also known as TdA, has been linked to a series of criminal activities, including human trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, and drug smuggling. In December, a married couple was kidnapped by a group of undocumented migrants in their Aurora, Colorado, apartment complex, and several suspects were identified as Tren de Aragua members.
The gang has terrorized countries such as Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, and Peru, in addition to Venezuela. Venezuelan authorities claim to have dismantled the leadership of Tren de Aragua and freed Tocoron prison from the control of its members. However, the leaders of Tren de Aragua operated out of the Tocoron prison, which they controlled, according to a report.
When Venezuelan officials raided the Tocoron prison in September 2023, they found a swimming pool, several restaurants, and a cache of weapons controlled by inmates. Retired Gen. Óscar Naranjo described Tren de Aragua as "the most disruptive criminal organization operating nowadays in Latin America."
US President Donald Trump announced a military strike in the Caribbean against an alleged drug boat tied to the cartel Tren de Aragua. The strike took place in international waters and resulted in the death of 11 people. In January, the administration added Tren de Aragua to the list of foreign terrorist organizations, and federal agents in New York arrested a man in connection with crimes involving the city's migrant community.
The administration sparked controversy by deporting more than 200 people, some of whom were alleged to be members of Tren de Aragua, to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. Aurora police stated that gang influence was "isolated" in the city, and the city countered that the real problem had been abusive housing conditions.
Despite efforts to contain the gang, Tren de Aragua has established itself in the US. US Customs and Border Protection and the FBI have stated that the gang is active in the country. Last year, rumors circulated that Tren de Aragua had been running amok in Aurora and terrorizing a handful of apartment buildings. In January, a man was arrested by federal agents in New York in connection with crimes involving the city's migrant community, and Aurora police stated that he was among five suspects in custody in the investigation.
The Tren de Aragua gang adopted its name between 2013 and 2015, according to Transparency Venezuela. The gang's influence continues to pose a significant threat across Latin America and the United States, and efforts to combat its activities remain a priority for law enforcement agencies on both continents.
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