Venezuela Dismantles Tren de Aragua, Regains Tocoron Prison

Venezuela has successfully completed the initial phase of reclaiming control over its prison system, as Interior Minister Remigio Ceballos announced during a visit to the Aragua jail near Tocoron, Reuters reports.

This achievement comes just days after security forces seized the prison, which had gained notoriety for being run by inmates.

The Aragua jail had been equipped with various luxuries, including restaurants, bars, and even outdoor swimming pools.

It had served as the headquarters for the notorious criminal gang known as Tren de Aragua, according to the Venezuelan government.

This gang was involved in various criminal activities, including assassinations, drug trafficking, and kidnappings.

Ceballos disclosed that the prison once housed 1,600 inmates, most of whom have already been relocated to other facilities nationwide.

Additionally, security forces apprehended approximately 88 members of Tren de Aragua who had escaped during the recent operation to regain control of the prison on Wednesday.

"This is a long-term operation," Ceballos emphasized, noting that authorities would continue their efforts to apprehend individuals suspected of being associated with the gang.

Following the operation, Tren de Aragua has been completely dismantled, according to Ceballos, although he did not provide further details.

Tren de Aragua High-Ranking Members Detained During Tocoron Prison Takeover

The Tocoron prison, one of Venezuela's largest, had previously been under the direct control of inmates, many of whom were affiliated with the powerful transnational criminal gang Tren de Aragua, named after the state where Tocoron is situated.

The operation to regain control of the prison involved over 11,000 security personnel, including the Army and National Guard, and was deemed a "complete success" by Interior Minister Ceballos.

During a media tour on Saturday, he reported the detention of 80 high-ranking Tren de Aragua gang members, according to CNN.

Ceballos refuted media reports suggesting negotiations with gang leaders before the operation.

Venezuela's Tren de Aragua Gang

With an estimated 5,000 members, the Tren de Aragua gang emerged in 2014 and engaged in various criminal activities, including kidnapping, robbery, drug trade, prostitution, extortion, and illegal gold mining.

Authorities maintain that the operation dealt a severe blow to the gang. Still, civil society groups have questioned its effectiveness, particularly regarding the escape of the gang's leader, Hector Guerrero, before the operation, Al Jazeera noted.

The Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVV), an organization monitoring developments in the country's perilous detention centers, claimed that Guerrero and other leaders had been tipped off and managed to flee both the prison and the country approximately a week before the operation.

The OVV did not specify the countries they fled to, accusing authorities of a lack of transparency. However, the government has denied these allegations.

During the limited media tour of the prison, excavators were observed dismantling some of the infrastructure constructed by inmates.

Reportedly, the few streets accessible to journalists were strewn with beer bottles, clothing, TVs, appliances, and stuffed animals.

Abandoned food stands, a basketball court, and remnants of a zoo that housed pink flamingos were also noted.

The government had previously announced the arrest and charging of four prison officials for their complicity with the criminals.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Venezuela sends 11,000 troops to control gang-run prison with pool and zoo - From Al Jazeera