Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang originally formed in prison, has transformed into a transnational criminal organization under the leadership of Hector Guerrero Flores. Following military intervention in September 2023, the gang’s influence has spread across several countries. President Trump has declared the gang a foreign terrorist organization, emphasizing the threat it poses to U.S. national security, especially with criminal connections among Venezuelan migrants.

In September 2023, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro deployed 11,000 soldiers to regain control of the Tocorón Prison in Aragua from Tren de Aragua, a formidable gang that had transformed the facility into a luxury compound. Despite the military operation, the gang’s leader, Hector Guerrero Flores, managed to escape during the intervention. Tren de Aragua has since become a focal point for President Trump’s efforts to address foreign criminal threats in the United States, aiming for mass deportations of illegal immigrants linked to this organization.

Originally a prison gang, Tren de Aragua has evolved into a transnational criminal organization, according to the U.S. State Department, which has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Guerrero Flores’s capture. Guerrero Flores, who spent significant time in Tocorón Prison, escaped in 2012 through bribery. Upon his return, he remodeled the prison’s environment and extended the gang’s influence beyond the prison walls, controlling gold mines, drug trafficking routes, and smuggling corridors across Venezuela and Colombia.

The gang’s name, translating to “Train of Aragua,” may reference a railroad workers’ union known for extortion practices. The group has expanded its criminal activities, branching into sex trafficking, contract killings, and kidnappings across several South American countries, including Peru and Chile. Journalists estimate the gang’s membership at around 5,000, with annual profits between $10 million and $15 million, despite some estimates suggesting a smaller size.

Tren de Aragua’s scope increased as Venezuela faced a humanitarian crisis since 2014, with operations reportedly reaching eight countries, including the United States. Its violent tactics, including murder and torture, have drawn comparisons to notorious gangs such as MS-13. Noteworthy incidents include the kidnapping of Venezuelan military officer Ronald Ojeda by gang members disguised as police officers in Chile, whose remains were discovered in March 2024.

In the U.S., President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, claiming that Tren de Aragua poses a grave threat to national security by conducting “irregular warfare” at Maduro’s behest. His administration categorized the gang as a foreign terrorist organization. Recent arrests of alleged members in states such as Texas, Florida, New York, and Illinois have underscored concerns over their criminal activities, with estimates suggesting that approximately 600 Venezuelan migrants in the U.S. are connected to the gang.

As of 2023, nearly 770,000 Venezuelans resided in the U.S., comprising nearly 2% of the immigrant population, many of whom hold protected status. Border encounters with Venezuelan migrants were reported to be over 313,500 in 2024, raising alarms about the possible links to criminal networks affiliated with Tren de Aragua.

Tren de Aragua has emerged as a significant transnational threat, evolving from a prison gang to a powerful criminal organization under Hector Guerrero Flores. Its activities have extended well beyond Venezuelan borders, prompting U.S. authorities to take action against its members. With President Trump’s administration labeling the gang as a foreign terrorist group, the safety concerns for both the United States and Latin America continue to grow. The urgency for addressing this issue highlights the complex interplay between immigration and international crime.

Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk

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