They initially reached the border with Norte de Santander, but given “a failed alliance” with the ELN, they moved to the center of Bogotá, they are already in 7 countries, in Cali the mayor says: “We cannot let them in.”
Cali News.
According to journalistic investigations, based on police data and others, those from the ‘Tren de Aragua’ arrived from Venezuela more than three years ago at the border with Norte de Santander and Arauca, seeking alliances for kidnapping and extortion, their main crime in their country. but “the alliance with the ELN was unsuccessful” and to avoid a massacre of its members, they left the area, finding a space in Bogotá.
Although in that border area, they continue to operate.
It is presumed that it was in the capital of the country, where they began to strengthen.
They initially arrived at the town of Kennedy, where poverty, the structure of the area became a propitious setting for them.
A corridor that connects with the southwest of Bogotá: with Bosa, Ciudad Bolívar and gives way to Soacha.
In Santa Fe they have also been strengthened, “and there they have appeared dismembered.” While “in Suba they did not succeed, because the paisas are there.”
There, alias ‘Camilo’ was already delinquent with a large gang, and began a series of confrontations with hired assassins and even discharging.
With alias ‘Camilo’ captured and several of his allies leaving with the ‘Tren de Aragua’ and others dead or fleeing the area, the path was ‘cleared’ for them.
They have managed to spread to different areas with the strongest crimes: extortion, microtrafficking, prostitution, and even theft of cell phones to steal information on them. “They have the ability to adapt.”
“They kill according to an order, here the figure of the normal hired killer that we know does not occur,” authorities in Colombia report.
With this organization, “there is an order of a leader who orders to kill a person that does not pay for the vaccine, when it is extorted ».
Do they operate in Cali?
Their presence has already been reported in Medellin, for example, although the local ‘combos’ are stronger, in addition to the same action and control exercised by the Clan del Golfo.
Its presence has been reported on the Colombian-Ecuadorian border, on the border with Nariño.
However, until now in Cali authorities have not confirmed whether they are operating directly or with alliances with local groups.
«They begin by controlling the pot of micro-trafficking with the profits from that business, they increase their control over drop by drop and all the informal businesses, mototaxi, public transport, continue to charge stores and bakeries, later they offer ‘Security’, and They take control of the territory: They call themselves Tren de Aragua, Sinaloa Cartel, Clan del Golfo and these mafias are the biggest threat we can have. In Cali, we cannot let them in,” was the statement of Mayor Jorge Iván Ospina.
And take control of the territory
They call themselves Tren de Aragua, Sinaloa Cartel, Clan del Golfo and these mafias are the biggest threat we can have. In Cali, WE CAN’T LET THEM IN– Jorge Ivan Ospina (@JorgeIvanOspina) August 31, 2022
Band with the greatest expansion in Latin America
Although those who direct the organization are Venezuelans and their leaders are in that country, some prisoners and others fugitives, they have managed to add Colombians.
In addition, it is presumed that pranes (dangerous prisoners and gang leaders in the neighboring country) have been brought in, and many more young people even with deceit.
It is organized crime, even transnational, and cells have also been identified in countries like Peru and Chile. Also in Brazil and Bolivia.
While in Ecuador on the border with Nariño, where the police have identified their actions, they have been after migrant smuggling.
Criminal gang that was strengthened from the Tocorón prison, with the pran Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero”, in Aragua State. Where he remains imprisoned, but he continues to direct the organization.
He was recaptured in May 2013, he had a false identity, he was posing as Danny José Heredia.
However, with fingerprint evidence, the CICPC (Venezuelan criminal investigation institution) managed to find his true identity: alias ‘Niño Guerrero’.
was wantedbeing involved since 2005 in different crimes, including attacking a police commission and murdering the official Oswaldo González.
In countries like Chile, this is how they identify the members and leaders.
The ‘Aragua train’ emerged in 2000 when “union members extorted (railroad) contractors, sold jobs on the construction sites and became known as ‘those of the Aragua train‘”, assures Luis Izquiel, an expert in organized crime in an interview with BBC Mundo.
Then, its today maximum ringleader, gained strength.
Until now, it is unknown how the authorities between Venezuela and Colombia, Interpol, have worked.
From Venezuela, security experts have pointed out part of the crime and operation of the Aragua Train, from the Tocorón prison.
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