💢 BREAKING: U.S. has just carried out strikes inside Venezuelan territory, President Trump writes on social media, targeting a Tren de Aragua leader.
The criminal organization originating from Venezuela was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. government in 2025.
It began in the early 2010s inside the Tocorón prison in the Venezuelan state of Aragua. The gang built a luxury bunker featuring a zoo, nightclub, and pool that served as their command center until Venezuelan authorities raided and retook the prison in September 2023. The transnational group is now estimated to have between 2,500 and 5,000 members.
U.S. authorities say the group primarily engages in human trafficking for sexual exploitation, extortion, migrant smuggling, drug trafficking, kidnapping, money laundering, and financial crimes (such as cyber-theft targeting ATMs).
Unlike gangs like MS-13, members typically do not use distinctive tattoos or visible symbols, making them highly difficult for law enforcement to identify.
The U.S. government justified the military action by stating the operation was closely "coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well."
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#UnitedStates /
#Venezuela (🇺🇸/🇻🇪)
Trump has announced today that
@Southcom conducted a kinetic strike on the leader of Tren De Aragua inside Venezuelan territory with coordination alongside Venezuelan Government.