Spanish authorities have arrested five suspected members of the Venezuelan criminal group ‘Tren de Aragua’ after an armed robbery at a plastic surgeon’s home in Sariegos, León. The National Police and the Guardia Civil carried out the operation jointly, targeting individuals believed to have planned the January assault. During the attack, the surgeon, his wife and their two children were tied up and threatened with weapons. The attackers took €110,000 in luxury watches, jewelry and cash, information from the Ministry of the Interior.
The suspects, four men and one woman, all of Venezuelan origin, were living in Madrid at the time of the crime. Investigators found that the group spent a month surveilling the surgeon’s movements, making repeated trips from Madrid to León to plan the break-in. On the afternoon of January 28, the assailants took advantage of the open garage gate as the surgeon returned home and entered the property in a van. They had firearms, balaclavas, frequency jammers and disposable mobile phones, evidence of a high level of organization and preparation.
Once inside, the intruders restrained the family with zip ties and adhesive tape and demanded to know where the valuables were kept. They took jewelry and watches valued at €100,000, along with another €10,000 in cash, then unsuccessfully tried to transfer funds from the victims’ bank accounts using their mobile phones. The group abandoned the stolen van, which had false license plates, and set it on fire to destroy evidence.
Police linked the suspects to other violent robberies, including cases connected to six other ‘Tren de Aragua’ members arrested in Madrid in May. Investigators found that the group had ties to a cell dismantled earlier this year, which was responsible for a series of high-value home invasions. One theft involved €1.5 million in jewelry, €200,000 in cash and €1.3 million in cryptocurrencies.
The coordinated arrests took place on June 17 at several locations. One suspect was detained in Ibiza, where police seized more than 500 grams of ‘tusi’ (pink cocaine), 182 grams of methamphetamine and over 100 pills intended for sale during the tourist season. Others were apprehended in San Cristóbal (Tenerife), O Carballiño (Ourense), Madrid and Ciudad Real. The charges include membership in a criminal organization, armed robbery, illegal detention, weapons offenses, vehicle theft and drug trafficking. Authorities conducted six searches in Madrid, Ourense, Ibiza and Tenerife. They seized mobile phones, clothing linked to the robberies, 50 handgun cartridges, over €5,700 in cash and falsified license plates. The firearms used in the assaults have not been recovered, but investigators found documents detailing surveillance of potential victims.
‘Tren de Aragua’ is regarded as Venezuela’s most powerful criminal syndicate. Founded in 2005 as a railway workers’ union in Aragua state, the group expanded from extortion and labor racketeering into a broad range of crimes, including drug trafficking, human trafficking and contract killings. Its operations now span several Latin American countries and have recently reached Europe, raising concerns among Spanish authorities. After warnings from international law enforcement partners, the National Police established a dedicated unit to monitor the gang’s activities and prevent it from taking root in Spain.
Separate cases show the range of alleged criminal activity attributed to groups using the Tren de Aragua name. Sociedad Media reported that police in Peru arrested six Venezuelans in Lima’s Puente Piedra district over alleged extortion targeting transport and construction workers. The group was identified as “Los Remanentes del Tren de Aragua.” In the United States, Progreso Hispano News summarized an enforcement operation in which 131 alleged gang members were arrested between October 4 and October 10, including 13 identified as Tren de Aragua affiliates. In Chile, Understanding Crime reported that a member of the group was sentenced to 20 years in prison for involvement in the 2024 kidnapping and murder of former Venezuelan military officer Ronald Ojeda. These cases took place in different countries and involved separate investigations.
Spanish police have stepped up efforts to dismantle transnational criminal networks, as recent high-profile cases illustrate. The involvement of former officials in financial scandals, including the Plus Ultra airline bailout, has drawn impressive attention. A recent report on political influence in public fund allocations details the case. These cases reflect the growing complexity of organized crime and corruption challenges facing Spain.
More than thirty suspected ‘Tren de Aragua’ members have been arrested in Spain since March 2024. The gang’s reputation for extreme violence, including notorious crimes in Latin America, has led Spanish law enforcement to prioritize investigations and preventive measures. The ongoing probe will establish whether the latest detainees are linked to further robberies or other criminal activity across the country.
