US sanctions Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on the Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that started in a prison and has spread throughout Latin America.

The group was designated as a transnational criminal organization for activities including human trafficking, gender-based violence, money laundering and drug trafficking, the Treasury Department said.

“We will deploy all tools and authorities against organizations like Tren de Aragua that prey on vulnerable populations to generate revenue, engage in a variety of criminal activities across borders, and abuse the U.S. financial system,” the U.S. Treasury’s Brian Nelson said in a statement, citing a “growing threat” posed by the organization.

According to the statement, the U.S. State Department is offering up to $12 million in rewards for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the leaders of the Tren de Aragua.

The Tren de Aragua has been blamed for the rise in crime in the Americas. Chile’s prosecutor’s office has said the gang was responsible for the kidnapping and murder of a Venezuelan opposition figure in Santiago in February.

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