The alleged leader of Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua's armed wing has been captured in a joint operation involving Colombia, the US, and the UK. Colombia's National Police reported the arrest of José Antonio Márquez Morales, known as 'Caracas', in the city of Valledupar. Márquez Morales is accused of playing a crucial role in managing the logistics and finances for the group, which is involved in extortion, drug trafficking, and smuggling activities.
Tren de Aragua has been a focus of US scrutiny, particularly under the Trump administration, which classified it as a terrorist organization and deported numerous suspected gang members to a jail in El Salvador. Police director Carlos Fernando Triana Beltrán indicated that Márquez Morales was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, alerting global law enforcement to his need for detention pending extradition.
The arrest comes amidst escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela regarding the latter's alleged ties to drug trafficking. The Trump administration has deployed warships to the Caribbean and conducted airstrikes on vessels suspected of drug transport from Venezuela. Additionally, it has implicated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in associations with drug cartels, offering a reward of up to $50 million for information leading to his capture. Maduro has, however, strongly denied these accusations, defending his government's action against drug trafficking.
Tren de Aragua has been a focus of US scrutiny, particularly under the Trump administration, which classified it as a terrorist organization and deported numerous suspected gang members to a jail in El Salvador. Police director Carlos Fernando Triana Beltrán indicated that Márquez Morales was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, alerting global law enforcement to his need for detention pending extradition.
The arrest comes amidst escalating tensions between the US and Venezuela regarding the latter's alleged ties to drug trafficking. The Trump administration has deployed warships to the Caribbean and conducted airstrikes on vessels suspected of drug transport from Venezuela. Additionally, it has implicated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in associations with drug cartels, offering a reward of up to $50 million for information leading to his capture. Maduro has, however, strongly denied these accusations, defending his government's action against drug trafficking.
