More than 11,000 Venezuelan troops stormed the notorious prison and took control from a powerful gang that had set up its own zoo, pool and casino for inmates to enjoy.
Tocolon Prison served as the headquarters for the criminal organization Torren de Aragua for many years. According to Agence France-Presse, some of the prisoners and their relatives and partners who were transferred to the prison were able to roam freely inside the prison and enjoy resort-like facilities.
Venezuela’s Interior Minister Remigio Ceballos said the prison would be completely evacuated and the prisoners would be transferred to another facility, according to Agence France-Presse. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro congratulated law enforcement on the raid.
“Congratulations to FANB’s more than 11,000 members.” [National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela] We ask for the cooperation of the police and the police to ensure a successful intervention in the Tokoron Prison Center,” President Maduro said. tweeted on wednesday.
“Currently, we are preparing for the second phase of the operation to liberate Cacique Guaycaipuro. We are moving towards a Venezuela free of organized crime!”
However, some prisoners appear to have escaped during the operation, as a subsequent government statement announced a “search and capture” operation to track down “fugitive criminals.”
Local media have reported that Hector Guerrero Flores, leader of the Torren de Aragua gang, may be among the fugitives, but the government has not released the names of the fugitives. Flores was serving a 17-year sentence for murder and drug trafficking.
Few details about the attack have been released. The Venezuelan military reported one casualty, including a major who died after hitting his head on the door of an armored vehicle.
According to AFP news agency, guards were seen removing motorcycles, televisions and microwave ovens from the prison during the transfer of prisoners.
Torren de Aragua controlled an international criminal organization that extended from prison to Chile, according to AFP news agency.
The facility featured a zoo with ostriches and flamingos, a children’s playground, a swimming pool, a game room, a casino, and a baseball field.
Those trapped were also free to bet on horse races, arrange loans at makeshift banks and even dance the night away at a nightclub called Tokio, the newspaper reported.
When Venezuela’s economic crisis made it difficult to obtain basic necessities, local residents sometimes went to prison in search of food and other supplies.
The presence of such a large-scale operation from a prison by the country’s most feared gang has led to speculation that Venezuelan authorities may have negotiated with Torren de Aragua, according to AFP news agency.
