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The alleged leader of Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua’s armed wing has been captured in a joint operation involving Colombia, the US and the UK. <\/p>\n
Colombia’s National Police said Jos\u00e9 Antonio M\u00e1rquez Morales – known as Caracas – was arrested in the city of Valledupar and alleged that he played a central role in managing the logistics and finances for the group for extortion, drug trafficking, and smuggling.<\/p>\n
Tren de Aragua has been targeted by US President Donald Trump who declared it a terrorist organisation and deported more than 250 people he claimed were members of the gang to a jail in El Salvador.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Colombia’s National Police Director, Carlos Fernando Triana Beltr\u00e1n said Mr M\u00e1rquez Morales was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice which is a request to police worldwide to detain someone pending extradition.<\/p>\n
News of the arrest emerged amid continuing tensions between the US and Venezuela over the Trump administration’s anti-drug-trafficking efforts in Latin America.<\/p>\n
It has deployed warships to the Caribbean and last month, bombed vessels which Trump claimed were carrying drugs, apparently travelling from Venezuela to the US.<\/p>\n
The Trump administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro of being in league with drug cartels and is offering a reward for information leading to his capture to $50m (\u00a337m).<\/p>\n
Maduro has strongly rejected Washington’s accusations and has defended his government’s actions against drug trafficking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n