The United States has escalated its financial and legal assault on the notorious Tren de Aragua criminal gang, imposing new sanctions on alleged affiliates and dramatically increasing a cash reward for information leading to the capture of a senior leader.
Fresh Sanctions and a Hefty Bounty
On Wednesday, the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) levied sanctions against Venezuelan entertainer Jimena Romina Araya Navarro. Known by her stage name "Rosita," she is accused of providing material support to the gang by allegedly aiding the escape of its leader, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, from Tocorón prison in Venezuela back in 2012.
Concurrently, the State Department increased its reward for information on Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano to a maximum of $5 million, a significant jump from the previous $3 million offer. Mosquera Serrano, the first Tren de Aragua member to feature on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List, faces charges of international cocaine trafficking conspiracy and providing material support to a designated terrorist organisation.
The Gang's Notorious Rise and US Designation
The Trump administration has pinpointed Tren de Aragua, which originated inside a Venezuelan prison, as a primary source of violence and illicit drug trade in numerous American cities. In February, the US government formally designated the group as a foreign terrorist organisation.
The gang's influence became so entrenched that during its control of Tocorón prison, it reportedly installed extravagant amenities including a nightclub, swimming pools, and a lavish suite. The US administration, led by President Donald Trump, has repeatedly claimed the gang operates under the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an assertion contradicted by a declassified US intelligence assessment.
A Coordinated Crackdown on Cross-Border Crime
These latest measures form part of a broader crackdown, with Tren de Aragua also cited as a justification for military actions against suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, as well as stricter immigration policies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the actions demonstrate that "barbaric terrorist cartels can no longer operate with impunity across our borders."
The administration has vowed to continue using all available tools to sever the gang's access to the US and global financial systems, emphasising the paramount goal of keeping American citizens safe from the group's alleged transnational criminal activities.
