Increased Reward for Wanted Gang Leader

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement has raised the reward for information that leads to the capture of Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, the head of the Torren de Aragua gang, to $5 million.

This is a notable jump from the previous reward of $3 million. The gang, known as TdA, was classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the State Department earlier this year, spurring U.S. authorities to intensify efforts to apprehend Serrano.

This marks Serrano’s debut on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitive List, as he has been identified for his role in orchestrating TdA’s extensive drug trafficking and financial schemes. He was originally indicted in Texas this January on charges related to an international cocaine trafficking conspiracy, and following the gang’s FTO designation, he faced additional charges including material support to a terrorist organization.

Simultaneously, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control enacted sanctions against several prominent TdA affiliates, among them Venezuelan entertainer Jimena Romina Araya Navarro, commonly known as “Rosita.” The Treasury identified her as part of a network of entertainment figures providing material support to the gang.

“For instance, Rosita reportedly assisted TdA’s infamous director, Hector Rustenford Guerrero Flores, in his escape back in 2012,” said the Treasury’s press release, elaborating that other associates were involved in laundering money for TdA leadership.

Rosita, who has a significant social media following, is known as a DJ and model in Venezuela. Authorities believe some earnings from her performances are funneled to TdA’s leadership, which likely spurred the recent sanctions.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, “Under President Trump, brutal terrorist cartels can no longer operate without repercussions.” He emphasized the threat posed by the Tren de Aragua network to the nation’s security and reaffirmed that measures will continue to keep these individuals out of the U.S. and the global financial system.

In recent years, TdA has been increasingly active in the United States. This uptick is partly attributed to members entering the country under the previous administration’s more lenient border policies. The gang’s criminal portfolio includes not just drug trafficking, but also migrant smuggling, extortion, and other violent crimes.

For those with information, the State Department is urging people to reach out to the FBI. The appeal highlights the seriousness of the situation and the importance of community involvement in combating these threats.