Aragua Train: A Multifaceted Criminal Enterprise
The U.S. Treasury Department recently sanctioned the criminal organization “Tren de Aragua” from Aragua, Venezuela, which started as a prison gang and expanded its operations to engage in various illegal activities, including the use of cryptocurrencies for criminal purposes.
The group’s criminal activities range from human trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, and drug trafficking to include illegal cryptocurrency mining, posing a significant concern for authorities.
By utilizing cryptocurrency to launder money, Tren de Aragua has added a layer of complexity to their operations, which involves infiltrating local criminal economies across South America and conducting cross-border financial operations discreetly.
Casualties: Trafficking and Exploitation
Tren de Aragua’s involvement in human trafficking activities, particularly targeting migrant women and girls for sexual exploitation and debt, presents a deadly threat to the region.
The organization’s global network is used to traffic individuals, and victims who attempt to escape often face severe repercussions, with their deaths sometimes broadcast as a warning to others.
Sanctions and Rewards
In response to the growing threat posed by Tren de Aragua, the U.S. Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on the group under Executive Orders 13581 and 13863, aimed at disrupting their criminal network and sending a clear message that transnational criminal activities, including the misuse of cryptocurrencies, will not be tolerated.
The U.S. State Department has also announced a reward of up to $12 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of several Tren de Aragua officials involved in transnational organized crime, highlighting the commitment to combatting such criminal organizations.
These coordinated actions underscore the need for law enforcement agencies to adapt to the evolving nature of criminal organizations utilizing emerging technologies like cryptocurrencies, to effectively respond to the changing landscape of transnational organized crime.
Overall, the case of Tren de Aragua showcases the intersection of traditional criminal activities with technology and emphasizes the importance of concerted efforts by the international community to address and dismantle such criminal networks.
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