Tren de Aragua | |
Founded | 2009–2010 |
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Founding location | Aragua, Venezuela |
Territory |
|
Membership | 5,000 |
Leader(s) | Niño Guerrero |
Activities | Protection racketeering, drug-trafficking, human-trafficking, human smuggling, kidnappings-for-ransom, illegal mining, bribery, and money laundering[1] |
Allies | Primeiro Comando da Capital |
Tren de Aragua (English: Aragua Train) is a transnational criminal organization from Venezuela. It is believed to have over 5,000 members.[2] Tren de Aragua is led by Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias "Niño Guerrero"; he was incarcerated in Tocorón prison , which functioned as the organization's de facto headquarters. The gang has since expanded throughout Latin America and the United States due to the Venezuelan refugee crisis, with the growth of the gang following the migration of Venezuelans to host nations.[2][3] Due to the severity of its crimes, combatting the gang has become a priority to many nations where Tren de Aragua has entered.[2] Though Tocorón prison was invaded in 2023, leadership escaped and the gangs activities continue to this day.