MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s Security Ministry said Saturday that it arrested an alleged local leader of the Tren de Aragua gang in Mexico City.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Nelson Arturo “N,” aged 29, who is described as the principal leader and operator of the transnational criminal organization within the country. In adherence to Mexican law, officials, who have noted that he faces several charges, do not disclose suspects’ last names.
The Tren de Aragua gang emerged over a decade ago in a notoriously ungoverned prison with hardened criminals in Venezuela’s central Aragua state. As economic challenges have driven more than 7.7 million Venezuelans to seek refuge in neighboring Latin American nations or the U.S., the gang has steadily expanded its reach.
The Trump administration labeled the group a terrorist entity, with U.S. officials repeatedly attributing local violence and illegal drug trading issues to the gang in several U.S. cities.
Despite a declassified U.S. intelligence report contradicting the claim, Trump has reiterated his assertion that Tren de Aragua operates under the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s supervision.
The exact size of the gang remains uncertain. Countries with significant Venezuelan migrant populations, such as Peru and Colombia, have alleged that the group is responsible for regional violence. On Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced he had ordered another operation against a small boat accused of drug transport in Venezuelan waters, broadening what the Trump administration has described as an “armed conflict” with cartels.
To date, at least three of these operations have targeted vessels U.S. authorities claim originated from Venezuela. These actions were preceded by an unprecedented buildup of U.S. maritime resources in the Caribbean.
In a post about the first strike last month, Trump claimed that the vessel was carrying members of the Tren de Aragua gang.
Security agents carried out intelligence work and identified the suspect, who they accused of crimes including human trafficking, drug dealing, homicide, kidnapping and extortion.
Along with the gang leader, two other men, ages 36 and 37, were arrested. Authorities said that they were found with more than 100 doses of drugs, two cellphones and cash.
After the arrests, they were placed under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General’s Office to determine their legal status.
On Wednesday, five alleged members of the gang were extradited from the United States to Chile, including one linked to the killing of a former Venezuelan soldier last year.
___
Gabriela Molina in Quito, Ecuador, and Gabriela Sá Pessoa in Sao Paulo, contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
