Venezuelan Troops Liberate Luxury Gang-Run Prison; Shocking Discoveries Inside
Venezuelan authorities have retaken control of a major prison in the northern state of Aragua from a powerful gang known as Tren de Aragua. The high-security facility, known as Tocorón prison, was not only run by the gang but also featured luxurious amenities that included a pool, nightclub, and even a zoo. Reports suggest that inmates at the prison were allowed to have their families live with them on-site. The gang had apparently transformed the prison into a self-sufficient community with gambling rooms, a baseball field, a restaurant, and other recreational facilities.
To regain control of the prison, the Venezuelan government deployed 11,000 troops from the Bolivarian National Guard, who successfully dismantled the gang’s stronghold and regained total control of the facility. President Nicolas Maduro hailed the operation as a significant success in the fight against criminal organizations. As a result of the operation, 6,000 inmates are being transferred to other prisons, leaving Tocorón prison devoid of its former gang presence.
The dramatic takeover revealed the extent of the gang’s influence and control over the prison. As security officers removed motorcycles, televisions, air conditioners, and microwaves from the facility, relatives of the inmates watched eagerly outside, awaiting news of their loved ones’ relocation. It is suspected that a number of inmates managed to escape during the chaos, prompting the government to launch a second phase of the operation to track down these fugitives.
Tren de Aragua, Venezuela’s most powerful gang, reportedly has around 5,000 members and is involved in various criminal activities such as kidnappings, robberies, drug trafficking, and prostitution. The gang is also linked to illegal gold mining and migrant smuggling in multiple Latin American countries. Venezuelan journalist Ronna Risquez revealed that the gang took advantage of the country’s economic and political instability to expand its operations.
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s prison system is grappling with severe overcrowding and extremely poor conditions, with prisons being more than 50 percent over capacity. Carlos Nieto, coordinator of A Window for Freedom, an NGO focused on prison rights, described the government’s raid on Tocorón prison as a necessary response to the chaotic state of the country’s prison system.
In neighboring Ecuador, another country plagued by gang influence in its jails, a convicted drug lord named José Adolfo Fito MacÃas Villamar has released a music video from behind bars. The professionally produced video showcases MacÃas Villamar inside the Guayaquil prison, where he is serving time for murder. The release of the video highlights the challenges faced by authorities in maintaining control over prisons and preventing illegal activities carried out by incarcerated criminals.
The operation to retake Tocorón prison underscores the Venezuelan government’s determination to combat criminal organizations and restore order within its prison system. With the transfer of inmates and the dismantling of the gang’s stronghold, authorities hope to restore security and stability to the facility.
