# Tren de Aragua criminal organization activities > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/tren-de-aragua-criminal-organization-activities > Updated: 2026-09-10T21:30:18.000Z. Sources: 134. Developments: 3. Legal and law enforcement actions against the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua have intensified across multiple countries. In Chile, the first trial has commenced regarding the February 2024 kidnapping and murder of Venezuelan lieutenant Ronald Ojeda. Prosecutors are targeting Maickel David Villegas Rodríguez, a member of the organization’s ‘Los Piratas’ cell, who was extradited from Costa Rica. Prosecutors allege Villegas Rodríguez played a key role by recording the abduction and sending the footage to the group’s leadership. Regional Prosecutor Héctor Barros stated the prosecution is seeking a 20-year sentence. Notably, prosecutors allege the motive differed from typical extortion-based crimes, suggesting the target was selected due to his political profile as a dissident opposed to the Nicolás Maduro administration. Due to the high-profile nature of the case, the Second Oral Criminal Court in Santiago implemented strict security protocols, including barring the general public and requiring journalists to surrender mobile phones. The investigation has identified 32 individuals, with 26 currently detained in Chile. In Colombia, ‘Operation Titan’ (Operación Titán) resulted in the capture of high-ranking leaders Richard José Espinal Quintero, known as ‘El Coti’, and Henderzon Adrián Villarroel Luque, known as ‘El Patón’. The operation, conducted by the Colombian National Police through the Dipol and GAULA-Élite units in coordination with the DEA, targeted individuals involved in transnational trafficking. Quintero, a fugitive with an Interpol red notice since 2023, served as a narcotics liaison. Villarroel Luque is accused of coordinating cocaine and weapons logistics for shipments to Central America, the United States, and Europe. Both individuals are subject to U.S. Treasury Department OFAC sanctions. Simultaneously, international law enforcement has targeted the group’s members in the United States, where the U.S. Marshals Service arrested six Venezuelan citizens in Chicago for suspected involvement in narcotics trafficking and firearms offenses. ## Claims - Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced the capture of two Tren de Aragua leaders in Manizales. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Richard José Espinal Quintero, known as ‘El Coti’, was identified as the fourth leader of the Tren de Aragua in Colombia. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Richard José Espinal Quintero had been a fugitive with an Interpol red notice since 2023. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Henderzon Adrián Villarroel Luque, known as ‘El Patón’, coordinated cocaine logistics to Central America, the United States, and Europe. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The arrests were conducted under ‘Operación Titán’ by the Colombian National Police and GAULA-Élite. (corroborated by 8 sources) - Both detainees are included on the U.S. Treasury Department's OFAC SDN list. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The arrests follow the recent detention of Tren de Aragua leader Luis Saúl Pérez Nieto in Bogotá. (corroborated by 8 sources) - The prosecution is focusing its evidence on proving Maickel David Villegas Rodríguez's participation in the kidnapping and homicide. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Chilean prosecution has requested a 20-year prison sentence for Maickel David Villegas Rodríguez. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Villegas Rodríguez is accused of recording the video of the abduction to be sent to the leadership of the Tren de Aragua organization. (corroborated by 4 sources) - Maickel David Villegas Rodríguez was extradited to Chile from Costa Rica in November 2024. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The prosecution asserts the kidnapping was motivated by Ronald Ojeda's political profile as a dissident against the Maduro government. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-10: Chilean prosecution seeks 20 years for Maickel Villegas in Ronald Ojeda murder trial Chilean prosecutors are seeking a 20-year sentence for Maickel David Villegas Rodríguez, accused of recording the kidnapping and murder of Venezuelan dissident Ronald Ojeda for the Tren de Aragua gang. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/chile-begins-trial-for-the-murder-of-venezuelan-lieutenant-ronald-ojeda ### 2026-09-04: Colombia captures two Tren de Aragua leaders in Manizales Colombian police captured two Tren de Aragua leaders, alias ‘El Coti’ and ‘El Patón’, in Manizales during ‘Operación Titán’. Both are accused of major narcotics and weapons trafficking. 130 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tren-de-aragua-leaders-and-members-arrested-in-us-and-colombia ### 2026-08-31: Tren de Aragua trial set for Ronald Ojeda murder case A trial begins October 20 for the kidnapping and murder of Ronald Ojeda in Chile, allegedly orchestrated by the Tren de Aragua gang with orders linked to Venezuelan political figures. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tren-de-aragua-trial-set-for-ronald-ojeda-murder-case --- Cite as: Tren de Aragua criminal organization activities. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/tren-de-aragua-criminal-organization-activities