Tren de Aragua Venezuela-based transnational crime organization Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Tren-de-Aragua Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Apr 7, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is Tren de Aragua? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Tren de Aragua is Venezuelau2019s most powerful and far-reaching criminal organization, originating as a prison gang in the Tocoru00F3n penitentiary in the early 2010s." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How did Tren de Aragua expand its operations? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "The organization expanded by following Venezuelan migration routes, establishing criminal cells in countries such as Colombia, Peru, and Chile and engaging in various illicit activities." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What happened during the September 2023 raid on Tocoru00F3n prison? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Venezuelan police and military raided the prison to reassert control, but the leadership of Tren de Aragua escaped, and its transnational operations continued." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What illicit activities is Tren de Aragua involved in? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Tren de Aragua is involved in extortion, migrant smuggling, kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, loan sharking, and robbery, with activities tailored to local conditions." } } ] } Top Questions What is Tren de Aragua? Tren de Aragua is Venezuela’s most powerful and far-reaching criminal organization, originating as a prison gang in the Tocorón penitentiary in the early 2010s.

　　How did Tren de Aragua expand its operations? The organization expanded by following Venezuelan migration routes, establishing criminal cells in countries such as Colombia, Peru, and Chile and engaging in various illicit activities.

　　What happened during the September 2023 raid on Tocorón prison? Venezuelan police and military raided the prison to reassert control, but the leadership of Tren de Aragua escaped, and its transnational operations continued.

　　What illicit activities is Tren de Aragua involved in? Tren de Aragua is involved in extortion, migrant smuggling, kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, loan sharking, and robbery, with activities tailored to local conditions.

　　Tren de Aragua, Venezuela’s most powerful and far-reaching criminal organization. The organization emerged in the early 2010s as a prison gang in the Tocorón penitentiary in the Venezuelan state of Aragua but grew into a transnational organization with operations across South America. Its expansion followed the routes of Venezuelan migration, allowing the group to establish criminal cells in countries such as Colombia, Peru, and Chile. From within Tocorón, the gang maintained control over these external cells and profited from a wide range of illicit activities. In September 2023 the Venezuelan police and military raided the Tocorón prison to reassert state ...(100 of 761 words)

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