Colombian Law Enforcement
An alleged leader of the militant faction of the Venezuelan criminal gang Aragua Train has been captured in a coordinated mission involving Colombia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
Colombia's National Police said that Márquez Morales - called Caracas - was arrested in the urban area of Valledupar and claimed that he was instrumental in managing the logistics and money for the syndicate for blackmail, drug trafficking, and contraband.
Tren de Aragua has been singled out by American leader President Trump, who labeled it a extremist organization and expelled over 250 people he claimed were associates of the syndicate to a jail in Central America.
Colombia's National Police Director, Triana Beltrán, mentioned that the suspect was the focus of an global detention request, which is a request to law enforcement globally to apprehend someone awaiting extradition.
News of the apprehension surfaced amid persistent tensions between the US and Venezuela over the US government's anti-drug-trafficking efforts in South America.
It has deployed military ships to the Caribbean Sea and last month, attacked ships which the president alleged were smuggling illegal substances, reportedly travelling from the South American nation to the US.
The US government has charged Venezuela's leader President Maduro of being allied to trafficking organizations and is posting a bounty for intel resulting in his capture amounting to $50 million (£37m).
The Venezuelan leader has strongly rejected Washington's claims and has defended his administration's measures to counter narcotics trade.
Connected Subjects
- Venezuelan affairs
- Trump administration
- Illegal drug market
