# Tren de Aragua cartel expansion and arrests > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/tren-de-aragua-cartel-expansion > Updated: 2026-08-02T21:31:20.000Z. Sources: 23. Developments: 4. In early July 2026 authorities began probing the Venezuelan criminal group Tren de Aragua in Mexico City and in Bucaramanga, Colombia. By late July investigations showed the cartel had broadened its illicit activities. In Mexico City the group took over prostitution networks, recruiting women through parties and social‑media contacts and using violence, extortion and homicide to dominate neighborhoods such as Sullivan, San Cosme and Tlalpan. Two leaders were detained and the United States announced a $5 million reward for the cartel head, Héctor Guerrero Flores. In Brazil’s northern state of Roraima police dismantled a branch allied with the local Red Command gang, arresting 13 suspects, freezing roughly R$429 million (≈US$82 million) in assets and exposing a weapons‑trafficking and money‑laundering network that linked the United States, Colombia and Venezuela and facilitated cocaine trade. Coordinated actions in Europe and South America produced further arrests. Spanish police seized suspects after armed home invasions in Madrid, Tenerife, Ibiza and Orense, confiscating luxury watches, jewellery, cash, cocaine, MDMA, firearms and false licence plates. In Bogotá a month‑long crackdown detained over 3,400 people, including a suspected cell leader “Maracucho” and six other members, disrupting extortion, drug trafficking and sexual‑exploitation networks. In early August Peru deported three Venezuelan nationals linked to Tren de Aragua—Edinson Agustín Barrera (alias Catire), Rodismel Alcántara (alias Rody) and Rafael Sorrilla (alias Rafa)—after they completed eight‑year sentences for illegal weapons possession. The operation, overseen by Defence Minister Rafael Belaúnde, Interior Minister César Astudillo and Foreign Minister Carlos Espá, used a Peruvian Air Force Spartan C‑27J aircraft, also repatriated ten Peruvians displaced by the 2024 Venezuelan earthquake, and signaled that further expulsions of foreign criminals will continue with reinforced border controls. ## Claims - Three Venezuelan nationals identified as Catire, Rody and Rafa were expelled from Peru to Venezuela. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The three men were members of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua. (corroborated by 12 sources) - All three had completed eight‑year prison sentences in Peru for illegal weapons possession. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The expulsions were carried out from Grupo Aéreo N.º 8 in Callao using a Peruvian Air Force Spartan C‑27J aircraft on 2–3 August 2026. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The operation was overseen by Defence Minister Rafael Belaúnde, Interior Minister César Astudillo, Foreign Minister Carlos Espá, Agriculture Minister Marco Vinelli and President Keiko Fujimori. (corroborated by 12 sources) - Peruvian officials said the government will continue expelling foreign criminals who have completed sentences and have pending warrants in their home countries. (corroborated by 12 sources) - Peru’s consular services in Venezuela were reopened, enabling coordination of the expulsions and the humanitarian repatriation. (corroborated by 12 sources) - The same flight also repatriated ten Peruvian citizens who had been displaced by the June/July 2024 earthquake in Venezuela. (corroborated by 10 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-02: Peru expels three Venezuelan Tren de Aragua members after serving sentences Peru deported three Venezuelan Tren de Aragua members after they finished eight‑year sentences, using a military plane that also repatriated ten Peruvians affected by Venezuela’s recent earthquakes. 18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/peru-deports-three-venezuelan-members-of-tren-de-aragua ### 2026-07-31: Tren de Aragua gang faces arrests in Spain and Colombia Spanish police arrested five Tren de Aragua suspects after violent home invasions, while Colombian forces detained over 3,400 people in July, including a gang leader known as “Maracucho”. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tren-de-aragua-gang-faces-arrests-in-spain-and-colombia ### 2026-07-29: Tren de Aragua expands criminal operations in Mexico and Brazil Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan cartel, now runs prostitution rings in Mexico City and has a criminal network in Brazil linked to Red Command, involving weapons, drug trafficking and money laundering. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tren-de-aragua-expands-criminal-operations-in-mexico-and-brazil ### 2026-07-11: Tren de Aragua investigated in Mexico City and Bucaramanga Mexico City police probe alleged Tren de Aragua activity in public‑transport routes, while Colombia’s Defensoría warns the group’s expansion into Bucaramanga, linking it to extortion, drug trafficking and local 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tren-de-aragua-investigated-in-mexico-city-and-bucaramanga --- Cite as: Tren de Aragua cartel expansion and arrests. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/tren-de-aragua-cartel-expansion