No “Significant” Tren de Aragua presence in Mexico!
Mexico City, Jan 16 (EFE).-
The Secretary of Security and Civilian Protection, Omar García Harfuch, stated on Friday that the Mexican government has not detected a “significant” or “alarming” presence of the transnational criminal group known as the Tren de Aragua in Mexico.
At a presidential press conference, García Harfuch stated that, based on information from the security cabinet, the identified criminal behavior is concentrated mainly in the center of the country and has led to recent arrests.
“Of the 11 states where we have had the most presence and made the most arrests, the central zone is where we have seen the most activity,” the official said, without specifying the states where the criminal organization, which originated in Venezuelan prisons, is present.
The Mexican security chief maintained that the government’s strategy aims to increase the capacity to identify and arrest alleged members.
“We do not have a significant or alarming presence in these 11 states either,” the official added.
The SSPC head explained that, although there has been no significant expansion, the cases attributed to this group have been grave.
“These have been serious crimes related to sexual exploitation and femicide. Those arrested have been charged with these offenses,” García Harfuch noted, adding that judicial processes are already underway for arrests made in the first months of the current government.
García Harfuch noted that some of the arrests made in Mexico City have already resulted in sentences, according to local ministerial authorities.
When asked about the coordination between the transnational gang Tren de Aragua and Mexican cartels, the secretary specified that the detected links have mainly been with local structures in the capital, such as the Unión Tepito cartel.
The Tren de Aragua, which originated in Venezuelan prisons, is known in the region for crimes such as extortion and trafficking. The group has recently received increased attention in various Latin American countries.
García Harfuch said that the priority in Mexico is to maintain coordinated operations with state prosecutors’ offices and corporations to contain the gang’s activity and continue the investigations.
As of Tuesday, Mexican authorities reported the arrest of at least six alleged members of the transnational criminal organization, believed to be involved in extortion, human trafficking, and drug trafficking. EFE
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