The expansion of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) beyond Latin America confirms its evolution from a local Venezuelan gang into a sophisticated transnational terrorist organization with an operational presence across continents. Its arrival in Europe, bolstered by regional alliances and a flexible “franchise” expansion model, introduces new challenges for global security.
A European turning point
The dismantling of a TdA cell in Europe marked a pivotal point in the group’s international reach. In November 2025, the Spanish National Police arrested 13 alleged members in a coordinated strike, Operation Interciti, which uncovered links to synthetic drug trafficking and other criminal activities.
The operation confirmed that the group has successfully established enclaves outside the Western Hemisphere. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the Colombian National Police and the European Union’s AMERIPOL-EL PACTO 2.0 project, a program dedicated to fighting transnational organized crime.
Jorge Serrano, a security expert and advisor to the Peruvian Congress Intelligence Committee, noted that the expansion of TdA should not be viewed in a vacuum. “The organization originated in an environment influenced by the regimes of Cuba and Venezuela, and its presence in Spain reflects the historical activity of Cuban intelligence networks in that country,” Serrano told Diálogo.
Serrano argued that the group’s arrival in Spain is a deliberate projection of “criminal influence” outside Latin America. He also warned of a burgeoning risk: “the depth of TdA’s ties to other long-standing criminal organizations could increase its capacity for adaptation and long-term survival.”
He highlighted TdA’s existing connections with established criminal structures, such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) in Colombia, the Red Command (CV) in Brazil, and the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. The expert stresses that these strategic alliances may provide the group with the logistical and financial autonomy to sustain global operations independently of its original domestic power base.
From Tocorón to the world
While the TdA originated as a prison-based syndicate within Venezuela’s Tocorón penitentiary, it has since evolved into a mobile, transnational force. By following the flow of the regional migration crisis, the group successfully exported its criminal architecture across the continent, funding its rapid expansion through the systematic exploitation of vulnerable populations.
The year 2025 marked a definitive turning point in the international response, as the group’s status shifted from a law enforcement concern to a primary national security threat. This shift was characterized by a wave of formal terrorist designations across the Western Hemisphere, reflecting a new regional consensus that TdA’s methods — ranging from public executions to the weaponization of human smuggling — pose a direct challenge to state sovereignty.
In South America, Argentina and Ecuador led the diplomatic charge by officially classifying TdA as a terrorist entity, a move that unlocked specialized military and judicial powers to dismantle the gang’s local command structures. This trend extended to the Caribbean, where Trinidad and Tobago elevated the group to a similar status following a surge in illicit maritime activity linked to the organization. Meanwhile, the Peruvian Congress advocated for a formal terrorist label to combat the Los Gallegos faction, citing the group’s use of psychological warfare against the civilian population. Together, these legislative actions have transformed the fight against TdA into a coordinated, multinational offensive aimed at neutralizing a common threat to hemispheric stability.
Criminal architecture and franchising
Authorities have identified TdA cells abroad by tracking their direct communications with commanders in Venezuela and monitoring illicit financial flows, according to human rights organization Transparencia Venezuela. These findings, according to Transparencia Venezuela, suggest a centralized leadership that coordinates alliances, resources, and financing for foreign criminal operations.
The group operates under a criminal franchise model, allowing local gangs to use the TdA name and backing in exchange for economic benefits. This strategy accelerates territorial expansion while minimizing risks and consolidating its presence through already established criminal actors.
Europe under surveillance
In Spain, authorities have been on high alert since 2022, following the detection of money laundering operations tied to the group. The March 2024 arrest of Gerso Isaac Guerrero Flores, Niño Guerrero’s brother, in Barcelona led to the creation of a specialized police team to monitor TdA’s front businesses, trafficking, and extortion.
Current reports suggest European cells are in an exploratory phase, identifying illicit economies, local allies, and criminal niches. There are signs of reconnaissance in Madrid and surveillance of Venezuelan opposition figures.
The challenge of decapitation
Serrano warned that shifts in the regional political landscape would not automatically signal the end of the TdA. To counter the group’s resilience, he emphasized the necessity of sustained, real-time cooperation between the security and intelligence forces of Latin America, the United States, and Europe.
The next step of the offensive, Serrano added, must focus on the “core leadership.” In his view, the criminal network is not solely a Venezuelan phenomenon but is supported by broader geopolitical interests. “The goal now,” he concluded, “is to decapitate the snake.”
