US sanctions growing Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Thursday placed sanctions on Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that began in a prison and has spread throughout Latin America.

The group was designated as a transnational criminal organization for activities including human smuggling, 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 range of criminal activities across borders, and abuse the U.S. financial system,” the U.S. Treasury’s Brian Nelson said in a statement, citing an “escalating 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 Tren de Aragua leaders.

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

(Reporting by Katharine Jackson, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien)