Brazil Operation Targets Members of Venezuelan Gang Tren de Aragua Operating in the Country

Police in Roraima, in northern Brazil, launched Operation Northern Route on Tuesday (16) targeting suspects linked to the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua. According to the investigation, the group was involved in drug trafficking, money laundering and supplying weapons to the Brazilian organization Comando Vermelho.

Both criminal groups are considered terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. The Brazilian gang’s classification was established last month.

The operation was carried out simultaneously in six Brazilian states: Roraima, Amazonas, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Paraná. Authorities executed 25 arrest warrants and 30 search and seizure warrants.

Founded in a Venezuelan prison, Tren de Aragua expanded its activities to other Latin American countries and is identified by authorities as responsible for drug and human trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and illegal mining.

Its leader, Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as Niño Guerrero, 42, was killed in a U.S. operation in Venezuela on Friday (12), announced by President Donald Trump and Venezuelan authorities.

Read the article in the original language

News from Brazil

Receive in your email inbox a summary of the day