Government officials in two countries told contradictory narratives about feared Venezuelan megagang Tren de Aragua this week in contrasting displays of performative politics.
US President Donald Trump described Tren de Aragua as an “extraordinary threat” to the United States, despite little evidence of the group's meaningful presence there. Shortly afterward, the Venezuelan Public Prosecutors Office declared that the gang had been dismantled.
Both statements cannot be true. While Venezuelan authorities raided the group’s prison headquarters in 2023, the gang continues to operate in the country. InSight Crime’s Investigations also show that Tren de Aragua has no significant presence in the United States, though the group has several international criminal cells in countries including Colombia, Peru, and Chile.
