Understanding the Tren de Aragua: A Multinational Crime Organization
The Tren de Aragua is a Venezuelan gang that evolved from a prison organization to a transnational crime network involved in serious crimes across South America and the U.S. It was responsible for notorious acts, including the murder of Ronald Ojeda, and has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
The Tren de Aragua is a Venezuelan gang that originated in 2014 within the Tocorón prison and has evolved into a multinational crime organization engaging in various illegal activities. This gang, named after a railroad workers’ union, has perpetrated serious crimes across several countries, including the United States and Chile, as part of its expansion following Venezuela’s ongoing economic crisis.
Initially dominating the Tocorón prison, the gang operated entertainment facilities and conducted criminal undertakings, including robberies and kidnappings. As Venezuela faced severe economic decline, Tren de Aragua sought to broaden its reach, exploiting the diaspora of about 8 million Venezuelans who left the country. It set up cells in Colombia, Peru, and Chile, engaging in drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, and prostitution.
One of its most notorious acts involved the killing of Ronald Ojeda, a former army officer. In 2024, gang members, disguised as police, abducted Ojeda from his home in Chile, leading to his corpse being discovered concealed in a suitcase. This incident led to the arrest of two individuals connected to Tren de Aragua.
The gang later extended its criminal activities to the U.S., where approximately 700,000 Venezuelan migrants reside. Instances of violent crime attributed to Tren de Aragua include the shooting of NYPD officers and the murder of a former police officer in Florida. Arrests linked to the gang have occurred across several states including Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, Texas, and California.
In response to these escalating activities, the Biden administration classified Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal organization, and in January, it was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
The Tren de Aragua gang, which began in a Venezuelan prison, has become a formidable transnational crime syndicate involved in various illicit activities across multiple countries. Its expansion into the U.S. represents a significant concern for law enforcement, prompting governmental responses at the highest levels. The classification as a foreign terrorist organization underscores the serious threat posed by its operations in the region and beyond.
Original Source: www.vpm.org
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