19 members of the Venezuelan gang Tren De Aragua are arrested in Colombia

Colombian authorities announced this Friday the arrest of 19 people allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, including a police lieutenant.

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“These people would be responsible for selective homicides, retail drug sales, extortion of merchants, sale of adulterated liquor, among other criminal activities,” Attorney General Francisco Barbosa told the media.

Along with the handcuffed detainees, the authorities presented several bags of marijuana, hundreds of doses of basuco (crack), two pistols and ammunition.

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According to the police, 14 of them are Venezuelans and the rest are Colombians, including the institution’s lieutenant.

The officer “facilitated the illegal actions of the Aragua Train, warned about judicial and investigative actions against its members in exchange for gifts that ranged between one million and two million pesos (200 to 400 dollars) per week,” explained Barbosa.

The Aragua Traina transnational crime organization that emerged in Venezuela, opened a field in the criminal world of Bogotá with blood and fire.

Its members have murdered 22 people “with extreme violence” so far this year, said General Henry Sanabria, director of the police.

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In several cases the remains were abandoned in plastic bags on the streets of the capital. Ten of these crimes have already been clarified, according to Barbosa.

The gang obeys orders from capos held in the Tocorón prison, in the north of Venezuelaaccording to the mayor of Bogotá Claudia López.

She is also accused of running contract killings and human trafficking in Chile, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.

Some 2.4 million Venezuelans have fled the crisis in their country to Colombia. Both countries share a 2,200 km border, along which there are drug and merchandise smugglers.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.