Venezuela’s ‘most dangerous’ gang heading to US as FBI warning issued

The ‘most dangerous’ criminal gang in Venezuela, infamous for its human and arms trafficking, racketeering, prostitution and murders, is making its way into the United States.

The FBI is already tracking Tren de Aragua as it expands its criminal empire onto American soil, with operations reported in Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, New York and Illinois.

Republican Congressmen have called on President Joe Biden to take action against the syndicate.

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It is believed that the gang, whose name translates to Aragua Train, adopted its current name between 2013 and 2015.

A former Venezuelan law enforcement official told CNN that by 2015: “They were already in their prime.”

The gang members, primarily Venezuelans, are known for their distinctive tattoos, including an AK-47, the Air Jordan logo, and a skull wearing a gas mask. They also favor Chicago Bulls branded clothing, reportedly due to a love for NBA legend Michael Jordan.

The notorious gang, boasting over 5,000 members, is commanded by the infamous Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Nino Guerrero”. Until recently, he orchestrated the gang’s activities from within Tocoron prison, despite being incarcerated for murder and drug trafficking.

Flores wielded such influence that he reportedly had the freedom to leave the prison at will.

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The operation also led to the seizure of an arsenal from the inmates, featuring automatic rifles, machine guns, and an extensive cache of ammunition.

Although the gang lost its stronghold in Tocoron, its leadership managed to evade capture, and its international cells remain active. With the Venezuelan refugee crisis as a backdrop, the gang has extended its reach across Latin America and into the United States.

The gang’s reign of terror extends beyond Venezuela, causing havoc in neighboring nations such as Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, and Peru. In their quest for expansion, they’ve shown a readiness to ally with other formidable criminal entities, including Brazil‘s Primeiro Comando da Capital and the dreaded MS-13 in the United States.

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As sectors of the organization gained power, they seamlessly integrated into local criminal rings, using conspicuous and calculated acts of violence to wipe out competition and assert their position as a formidable threat.

CNN was informed by retired general Oscar Naranjo, who once served as Colombia’s vice president and led the Colombian National Police, that it is “the most disruptive criminal organization operating nowadays in Latin America.”

* Original Article:

https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/144663/Tren-de-Aragua-Gang-murder-tattoos/amp