In some Latin American countries, acts of violence involving kidnappings, drug trafficking and possession of illicit firearms have become common in recent decades, but in Chile, one of the safest countries on the continent, it is a new practice that causes shock.
After the
eviction on June 16 of 23 houses in Cerro Chuño, a poor sector of Arica, in the
extreme north of Chile, police found weapons, drugs and the body buried with
signs of torture of a man who had already been dead for a month, according to
the autopsy.
The agents
arrested 17 people who were charged with crimes of trafficking and illicit
association for drug trafficking, kidnapping, possession of firearms, among
other charges.
The
president of Chile expressed his concern and indicated that the capture of
those responsible for these violent acts will be considered a priority.
According
to the authorities, these people are part of the group "Los
Gallegos", in the wing of the criminal gang of the Tren de Aragua, of
Venezuelan origin and who have expanded throughout the Latin American
territory.
The Aragua
Train, as it is known, was born in the state of the same name, in northern
Venezuela, about a decade ago and operating from Tocorón approximately 12 to 14
years ago, led by Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias "Niño
Guerrero," according to experts.
Many of its
members are imprisoned in the local prison of Tocorón and from there they
direct all illegal actions.
They first
expanded outside the prison to other sectors of Aragua state. Then they
expanded to the rest of the country: "They are known to be in Sucre state,
controlling drug trafficking routes, and engaging in illegal mining in Bolivar
state."
Criminal
leaders in Venezuela are known as the "pranes" and Hector Guerrero
Flores is perhaps the most important in the entire country.
The Aragua
Train initially expanded throughout venezuelan territory, mainly in border
areas, but from 2018 its presence in Peru was evident, after the capture of 2
of its members who admitted six homicides under the modality of sicariato.
In
neighboring Brazil, authorities have identified links between the Aragua Train
and the First Capital Command (PCC), the country's most important criminal
organization — and also born in a penitentiary — in the state of Roraima, which
shares a border with Venezuela.
The group's
activities have also been recorded in Colombia. According to specialists,
Venezuelan migrants have become the main victims of the criminal organization.
The
criminal gang began operating in the border area with Venezuela, between
Táchira and Norte de Santander, controlling the border crossing. It has now
expanded to several regions of Colombia, including Bogota.
According
to Colombian authorities, the criminal group has been fighting since 2021 with
other Colombian gangs for control of the drug business in the country's
capital.
In Chile,
they already have a more organized structure and obey a leader, some are
dedicated to the collection of money, better known as vaccines, others to the
handling of armaments, extortion, hitmen, among others. The money obtained by illicitly acts is sent
to Venezuela.
"Normally
a criminal organization seeks to act with stealth so as not to arouse greater
suspicion. These people do not, their hallmark is to cause fear and for this
they occupy the techniques we have seen, homicides and torture," mario
Carrera, who is regional prosecutor of Arica and Parinacota in Chile, said last
week during an intervention on the Radio Cooperativa de Chile.
The Aragua
Train has also been accused in Chile and other countries of trafficking women
for the purpose of sexual exploitation and smuggling of migrants.
Calculating
the number of members of the Aragua Train is complicated, but Izquiel estimates
that it could be between 2,500 and 3,000 individuals, while Ronna Risquez's
estimate goes up to 5,000.
Sources
Insight Crime
El Espectador
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