The fight against the Venezuelan gang "Tren de Aragua" has led Chile to currently have 307 of its members in prison, according to the Undersecretary of the Interior, Luis Cordero. Despite this organization being classified as terrorist by Trump, which does not affect Chile's strategies, the South American country has been closely cooperating with U.S. authorities in the fight against this criminal group.
During a recent visit to Washington, Cordero met with personnel from the DEA and the FBI, with the FBI reluctant to make comments and the DEA still not responding to information requests. In this regard, a U.S. official mentioned the valuable cooperation of Chile in efforts against the "Tren de Aragua".
The gang operates differently than Mexican cartels, acting more like a holding company than regional franchises. Chile has been dismantling this organization since 2022, providing vital intelligence to the United States about the modus operandi of the "Tren de Aragua".
The U.S. has arrested one of the gang leaders, nicknamed "El Turco", and Chile has requested his extradition. Venezuelan journalist Ronna Risquez, author of the book "El Tren de Aragua", emphasizes that cooperation with countries like Chile and Colombia is crucial for success in the fight against this criminal organization.
Given the dispersed and complex structure of the "Tren de Aragua", tracking its operations can be difficult. Originating in a prison in Venezuela over a decade ago, the gang has expanded its reach across Latin America to the U.S. through illegal migration. The experience accumulated by Chile in dismantling this criminal gang has become a fundamental pillar in the regional fight against the "Tren de Aragua".
