AFP soldiers at the prison gates of the complex in the north of the country
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 05:49
In Venezuela, around 11,000 soldiers have regained control of a prison that had fallen completely into the hands of a powerful criminal gang. The Tocoron prison in the north of the country is said to have served as the headquarters of the powerful Tren de Aragua gang, which has thousands of members and is also active internationally.
It recently emerged that gang members had redeveloped the prison as a kind of hotel, with luxury facilities such as a swimming pool, a nightclub, a casino and a zoo. Family members of convicts were found to be living with the prisoners within the prison walls.
During the military operation, reporters from the AFP news agency stood outside the prison among the relatives of the convicts who had apparently been living in luxury in the cell for some time. Military personnel are said to have brought out motorcycles, televisions, air conditioners and microwaves after the operation.
Escapes
The Venezuelan government has congratulated the relevant services for regaining control of the prison in the state of Aragua. The massive operation has dismantled a “center of conspiracies and crime”, according to the government.
The Tren de Aragua gang, which is associated with kidnappings, robberies, drug smuggling, extortion, illegal gold mines and human smuggling, among other things, is led by Héctor Guerrero Flores (39). He was serving a 17-year sentence in Tocoron prison for murder and drug smuggling. He was reportedly able to enter and exit the complex at his leisure.
It looks like the operation isn’t completely over yet. A number of prisoners are said to have escaped as the military tried to regain control. The government has announced that the fugitives will be sought. The convicts who were in Tocoron prison are being transferred to other prisons.
2023-09-21 03:49:25
#Venezuela #gang #loses #control #prison #nightclub #zoo
