U.S. Sanctions Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, Offers Reward for Leaders

The Biden administration has sanctioned Venezuela's Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal organization. The U.S. is offering a USD 12 million reward for the capture of its leaders, accusing the gang of crimes including kidnapping and human trafficking, particularly targeting vulnerable migrant populations.

On Thursday, the Biden administration sanctioned Venezuela's Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal organization and announced a USD 12 million reward for the capture of its leaders.

Washington accuses the gang of spreading throughout Latin America, engaging in various criminal activities such as kidnapping, extortion, and human trafficking.

Initially rooted in Venezuela's notorious prisons, the Tren de Aragua has grown by exploiting desperate Venezuelan migrants who have escaped President Nicolas Maduro's regime, migrating across Latin America and into the United States.

The U.S. Treasury Department described the group as a 'deadly criminal threat' in the region, noting that it targets vulnerable populations including migrant women and girls for sex trafficking.

Furthermore, the Department stated that Tren de Aragua members often kill victims who try to escape their clutches, publicizing these deaths to intimidate others.