The Expansion of Torren de Aragua in Mexico City
The Venezuelan terrorist group Torren de Aragua (TdA) has significantly advanced its operations in Mexico City, emerging as a key player in the illicit activities of the capital. Classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government, this group’s growth in Mexico seems to align with efforts from the U.S. to track its members and expel them from American territory.
According to police intelligence reports cited by Mexico’s Proceso Magazine, TdA transformed from a relatively minor entity into one of the most violent and lucrative organized crime groups in just two years. This transition has allowed them to gain considerable control over criminal enterprises in Mexico City.
As highlighted by Breitbart Texas, TdA originated in Venezuela and has surged in size, especially as many members migrated from Venezuela to various large U.S. cities. Their operations primarily involve drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and extorting vulnerable immigrant communities. Their reputation for brutal tactics and seeming impunity in some American cities hasn’t gone unnoticed.
During the Trump administration, TdA was identified as a critical target, leading to a focused effort to expel its members from the U.S. This swift response appears to have prompted their shift to Mexico City.
In Mexico, TdA has concentrated on sex trafficking and has utilized Chinese precursors for the production of pink cocaine and other designer drugs, as reported by Proceso. From their base in Mexico City, they have developed a large-scale sex trafficking operation that not only caters to popular tourist spots like Cancun but also extends internationally, trafficking women from South America to Europe.
Recently, Mexican authorities have ramped up efforts to curb TdA’s activities. However, the effects have been limited compared to the group’s rapid ascendancy. This swift expansion has already resulted in violent confrontations in Mexico City, where TdA faces rival criminal organizations while also forming strategic alliances with other groups and cartels.
