The Venezuelan government has taken back control of the Tocoron Penitentiary Center from gangs, and journalists were invited to tour the facility.

Venezuela Prison Overrun By Criminal Gang ‘Tren De Aragua’ Reclaimed By Venezuelan Government| Agencia EFE

The prison was reclaimed from the control of the Tren de Aragua gang, by security forces in a successful operation involving over 11,000 personnel.  

The Interior Minister announced that 80 high-ranking Tren de Aragua gang members have been arrested. Journalists discovered that inmates had built a swimming pool and restaurants within the prison walls.

Many inmates have been transferred to other prisons, although their relatives claim they have not been able to communicate with them since the operation began.

The Tocoron prison symbolized the government’s struggle to regain control after it was taken over by the Tren de Aragua criminal gang.

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The Tren de Aragua gang is considered the most powerful criminal group in Venezuela.

The Tren de Aragua gang, consisting of around 5,000 criminals, was involved in various criminal activities such as kidnapping, robbery, drugs, prostitution, extortion, and illegal gold mining, according to Al Jazeera.

While authorities believe the raid on the prison dealt a significant blow to the Tren de Aragua gang, civil society groups questioned its success, as the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang had escaped prior to the operation.

The Venezuelan Prison Observatory accused authorities of informing the Tren de Aragua gang leaders, allowing them to escape the prison and the country, Al Jazeera added.

READ MORE| Venezuela regains control of prison where inmates built swimming pool, restaurants