Background on Tren de Aragua and its Global Threat Designation
The Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization of Venezuelan origin, has been operating in Chile and other South American countries since 2014. This group was recently designated as a global terrorist organization by the Trump administration, posing a significant threat to US security.
Chilean Court’s Ruling Against Tren de Aragua Leaders
On Monday, a Chilean court sentenced 12 criminals to a total of 300 years in prison, including five life sentences. These individuals were found guilty of homicide, kidnapping, and human trafficking by the fiscalía (prosecution).
Key Figures and Their Sentences
- Carlos González (“Estrella”): Condemned to a qualified life sentence, which allows for parole after 40 years, for crimes such as kidnapping, illicit association, and human trafficking.
- Hernán Landaeta (“Satanás”): Received a simple life sentence, allowing for parole after 20 years, for similar crimes.
- Zeus Velásquez, Juan Carlos Blanco, and Daniel Azuaje: All received simple life sentences with parole eligibility after 20 years for comparable offenses.
- The remaining members of the group received sentences ranging from 2 to 22 years.
The court confirmed at least 11 criminal acts of organized crime involving these accused individuals since 2021.
Previous Convictions and Expansion of Tren de Aragua
In March of the previous year, Chilean authorities convicted 34 members of Tren de Aragua, resulting in over 560 years of combined prison sentences.
The criminal activities of Tren de Aragua have spread across several South American countries, including Colombia, Chile, and Peru, according to various intelligence reports.
Global Threat Designation by the Trump Administration
In February, the Trump administration designated Tren de Aragua as a global terrorist organization and a threat to US security.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Tren de Aragua? Tren de Aragua is a criminal organization of Venezuelan origin that emerged in 2014 and has since expanded its operations to several South American countries, including Chile, Colombia, and Peru.
- Why was Tren de Aragua designated as a global terrorist organization? The Trump administration classified Tren de Aragua as a global terrorist organization due to its criminal activities, which pose a significant threat to US security.
- What crimes were the 12 individuals convicted of in Chile? The 12 individuals were found guilty of homicide, kidnapping, and human trafficking.
- What are the implications of Tren de Aragua’s expansion? The spread of Tren de Aragua’s criminal activities across multiple South American countries highlights the need for regional collaboration in combating transnational organized crime.
