Ex-Venezuelan Colonel Challenges U.S. Intel on Gang Ties to Maduro’s Regime

Ex-Venezuelan Colonel Challenges U.S. Intel on Gang Ties to Maduro’s Regime

A former high-ranking officer of the Venezuelan military has disputed a recent report from the U.S. intelligence community concerning the notorious Tren de Aragua gang operating across the United States. Jose Arocha, a former lieutenant colonel, voiced his concerns about the U.S. intelligence findings, which he believes overlook crucial aspects of the Maduro regime’s strategy.

Tren de Aragua’s Rising Influence

Known for its brutal methods, Tren de Aragua has gained notoriety for instilling fear in various U.S. cities over recent years. Their criminal activities include heinous acts such as the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley and the takeover of an entire apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado.

In a decisive move shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump directed the State Department to classify the gang as a “foreign terrorist organization.” This designation highlights the serious threat posed by the organization to national security.

Insights from Jose Arocha

In an interview with Fox News Digital conducted via Zoom, Arocha, who now works as a national security expert at the Center for a Secure Free Society, expressed his support for the Trump administration’s actions against Tren de Aragua. He emphasized that the gang serves as an asymmetrical warfare tool for the Maduro regime, aimed at creating chaos in the United States and within the Western Hemisphere.

“The Maduro regime doesn’t need to deploy troops to the United States; it simply sends criminals instead,” Arocha remarked. “Tren de Aragua operates like a plug-and-play insurgency, assembled in prisons and dispatched abroad.” His comments underscore the potential threat that the gang poses beyond mere criminal acts.

Contrasting Intelligence Overview

Arocha’s assessments starkly contrast a public memo released by U.S. intelligence agencies in the previous month. The report claimed that no significant connections exist between the Maduro government in Caracas and Tren de Aragua.

The memo identified that while the permissive environment in Venezuela allows Tren de Aragua to operate freely, it does not suggest that the Maduro regime actively collaborates or directs gang movements to the United States. It concluded that Venezuela’s law enforcement actions demonstrate a complex relationship characterized by a combination of cooperation and confrontation.

Misguided Perspectives on the Shan

Arocha raised concerns regarding the narrow focus of the intelligence report, arguing that it overlooks the broader implications of crime and migration intertwined with warfare. He stressed the historical animosity that the Maduro regime harbors towards the United States, indicating a long-standing adversarial relationship.

“The report reduces the issue to questions of crime and migration, neglecting the warfare aspect entirely,” he stated. “The United States has been viewed as an enemy by the Maduro regime for years.” This view suggests that the Intelligence Community’s perspective may be too limited.

The Nature of Tren de Aragua

Arocha further clarified that Tren de Aragua should not merely be viewed as a conventional gang. He characterized it as an enabling arm of the Venezuelan regime involved in hybrid warfare strategies. This unique lens reveals how a localized gang can operate across numerous countries, including the United States.

Arocha also criticized the conditions in Venezuelan prisons, particularly Tocorón, which he described as resembling luxury resorts rather than correctional facilities. “Tocorón, touted as Venezuela’s crime epicenter, operates more like a palace for organized crime, featuring nightclubs and even a swimming pool for inmates,” he noted.

Arocha’s Perspective on Recent Raids

The Venezuelan government’s 2023 raid on Tocorón, Arocha argues, seemed staged, allowing key Tren de Aragua leaders to escape through pre-existing tunnels. This perception implies that while the regime projects an image of cracking down on crime, Tren de Aragua’s operational capabilities remain undiminished.

Possible Connections to Political Violence

The intelligence report acknowledged that escaped members of Tren de Aragua potentially received assistance from lower-ranking military and political leaders. However, Arocha believes that the connection runs much deeper. He pointed to the case of Ronald Ojeda, a political dissident kidnapped and murdered in Chile—a case under investigation for possibly being tied to Tren de Aragua with backing from the Maduro regime.

Recent statements from Chile’s Attorney General, Angel Valencia, noted that Ojeda’s murder showed signs of politically motivated violence, further justifying Arocha’s claims.

Links to Global Threats

Arocha also cited former Vice President Tareck El Aissami’s alleged connections to terrorist organizations as evidence of the Venezuelan government’s complicity with global adversaries. El Aissami, who remains imprisoned on corruption charges, supposedly maintains links to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

This situation raises alarms regarding the extent of Venezuela’s influence in fostering instability in the region through these connections. Arocha’s remarks indicate that the regime may be collaborating with hostile nations such as Russia, Iran, and China to incite chaos in Latin America, thereby indirectly challenging the United States.

Call for Comprehensive Strategy

Arocha urges the U.S. administration to adopt a holistic approach in tackling the threat posed by Tren de Aragua. He advocates for cooperation with Latin American nations, particularly Chile, which has experience in dealing with the gang. By sharing intelligence and strategies, the U.S. can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the threats and connections involved.

“By collaborating with those already knowledgeable about Tren de Aragua, we can assemble the big picture instead of making localized assessments. The central link is likely positioned right in Caracas, underscoring the need for a thorough review of intelligence gathered from the region,” Arocha concluded.