Aragua Train, the Venezuelan cartel in Trump’s sights that expands in Mexico

A Insight Crime report a center dedicated to studying organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean, suggests that the expansion of the organization is due to the departure of Venezuelans from their country.

“This transnational expansion occurred at the expense of the massive Venezuelan exodus. From the Tocorón prison, in Aragua, the gang supervised and benefited from cells established in at least three other South American countries,” he says.

A series of serious crimes are attributed to the Aragua Train, such as human trafficking and sexual exploitation, drug and migrant trafficking, as well as extortion, kidnapping, homicides, illegal mining, cybercrime and robbery.

From Chiapas to 11 entities

Since 2022, the Aragua Train has a presence in Mexico. Their incursion began in Chiapas, where authorities identified their operation in Frontera Chimalapa and Tapachula, with activities such as exploitation and informal loans under the “gota a gota” modality.

Over time, the organization expanded its presence to other entities in the country. Currently, it has operations in Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz, Hidalgo, Puebla, State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Mexico City, Tamaulipas and Chihuahua.

To expand its influence in Mexico and other countries, the Tren de Aragua formed alliances with local organizations and large criminal groups. In Mexico, these alliances include the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

“The Aragua Train has maintained numerous links with organized crime and prison groups, both in Venezuela and in other countries, with which it has established non-aggression pacts and even alliances to share criminal profits,” adds Insight Crime.

In Mexico City, the Aragua Train operation had already been identified in sexual exploitation networks, as well as in the death of two Venezuelan women and various executions.

In the north of the country, it was detected that members of the organization were charging fees to migrants trying to reach the United States.

Last October, the Secretary of Security, Omar García Harfuch, declared that the Aragua Train was not yet considered a generator of violence in the country. “We have had arrests of several criminal groups from Venezuela, from South America, however, we do not have this group registered as the main generator of violence,” said the official.

This Friday, January 16, after the arrest of six members of the cartel in CDMX, the secretary stated that although the arrests of elements of this group have increased, no expansion has been identified.

“We presented the last arrest and we have been detaining in the central zone of the country. Of the 11 entities, in the central zone we do not have a significant presence, but they have been regrettable crimes related to sexual exploitation. Of the first arrests they have already been sentenced,” he explained in the morning held in the State of Mexico.