Police Arrest Dozens Of Venezuelan Gang Members Tren De Aragua In Spain

UNSPLASH/Sheila C ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Police arrested 13 people suspected of being members of the first cell of Venezuela's "Tren de Aragua" criminal gang detected in Spain, following raids in five cities.

The de Aragua trend, which was originally formed in Venezuelan prisons, has grown into one of the most violent transnational criminal networks in Latin America, linked to drugs, human trafficking, and extortion.

Police said the arrests took place in Barcelona, Madrid, Girona, A Coru totaling, and Valencia in an investigation into alleged attempts by the group to expand its operations to Spain, where Venezuelans are one of the largest immigrant communities.

Reported by Reuters on Friday, November 7, officers confiscated synthetic drugs, cocaine, cannabis plantations, and two laboratories that produce "tusi", also known as pink cocaine, a substance known to be trafficked by the gang.

The operation follows the arrest of a brother suspected of being the gang leader in Barcelona in 2024, who is accused of trying to expand the group to Spain.