Understanding the Venezuelan Gang Tren de Aragua
In September 2023, members of the Bolivarian National Guard were seen overseeing the transfer of inmates outside Tocorón prison in Aragua State, Venezuela. The Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang now under scrutiny in recent deportation efforts, originated in this prison and has evolved into a widespread criminal network with operations extending from New York City to Santiago, Chile.
Established in 2014 within Tocorón prison in Aragua, the gang's name, meaning "the train of Aragua," likely derives from a railroad workers' union involved in constructing a rail link between Caracas and Aragua. Inside the prison, the gang exerted significant control, managing facilities like a zoo, swimming pool, disco, restaurant, and bar. From there, its leaders orchestrated various criminal activities, including robberies, kidnappings, and murders.
As Venezuela's economy deteriorated, making crime less profitable domestically, the Tren de Aragua expanded internationally. It recruited from the millions of Venezuelans who left the country due to the economic crisis, setting up criminal operations in Colombia, Peru, and Chile. These cells engaged in drug and human trafficking, extortion, and prostitution.
One of the gang's most infamous alleged crimes was the 2024 murder of Ronald Ojeda, a former Venezuelan army officer who opposed Nicolás Maduro and sought refuge in Chile. Disguised as Chilean police, gang members reportedly kidnapped Ojeda from his home. His body was later discovered in a suitcase encased in cement. Two individuals linked to the gang have been arrested in connection with this crime.
The gang's reach eventually extended to the United States, which hosts a significant Venezuelan migrant population. In addition to numerous robberies, the gang is implicated in the shooting of two police officers in New York and the murder of a former Venezuelan police officer in Florida. Arrests of gang members have occurred in several U.S. states, including Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, Texas, and California.
In response to the gang's activities, the Biden administration classified the Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal organization last year. In January, the U.S. government further designated it as a foreign terrorist organization.