Police in Spain dismantled a cell of the Tren de Aragua gang in an operation that left 13 people arrested and confirmed the Venezuelan gang’s presence in Europe. Credit: Banja-Frans Mulder, CC BY 3.0 / Wikimedia.
Spanish police dismantled a cell of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, designated as a terrorist organization in the United States. The operation, which resulted in a total of 13 arrests, took place in various Spanish cities and highlights the group’s growing presence in the European country. In fact, last year police had already arrested a high-ranking member of Tren de Aragua in the city of Barcelona.
Police actions were carried out between yesterday and today in Barcelona, Madrid, Girona, A Coruña, and Valencia, as part of an investigation coordinated by the National Court — the tribunal responsible for handling terrorism, organized crime, and drug trafficking cases — according to the police statement. The detainees are accused of crimes related to human trafficking, money laundering, extortion, and other violent acts.
Tren de Aragua cell dismantled in Spain; 13 arrested
On the morning of Friday, Nov. 7, Spanish police announced the dismantling of a cell of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua that was operating in Spain. Following an operation in several provinces, authorities arrested a total of 13 people (eight in Barcelona, two in Madrid, and the rest in the cities of A Coruña and Valencia).
According to the police statement, those arrested were engaged in drug trafficking, though they will also face charges for other crimes such as human trafficking, money laundering, extortion, and violence.
Tren de Aragua, originally from Venezuela and now widespread across Latin America, has established itself as an organization with the status of a “Latin American mafia,” according to experts on this type of criminal group. Its hierarchical structure, ability to operate abroad, and broad criminal portfolio — including drug trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping — make it an increasingly significant threat to European security forces.
Spain, due to its geography, its shared language with Venezuela, and its connections with Latin America, stands out as an “ideal platform” for these groups, according to law enforcement sources. The investigation indicates that this cell played a logistical and facilitative role for the Venezuelan leadership: It organized the arrival of new members into the country, managed the placement of people in different Spanish cities, and focused especially on recruiting women for sexual exploitation.
During the raids, authorities seized electronic devices, documents with falsified identities, and large sums of cash, demonstrating the level of sophistication the group had reached.
The operation’s implications for the gang’s financing are also significant: Police reports indicate that some of the profits obtained in Spain were funneled to South America to support associated criminal structures. Moreover, at least some of those arrested were already wanted by Venezuelan authorities and appeared on international alerts.
🚩Desarticulada por primera vez una célula del “Tren de Aragua” asentada en #España
🔹Hay 1⃣3⃣ detenidos en #Barcelona (8), #Madrid (2), #Girona, #ACoruña y #Valencia
🔹Los arrestados “cocinaban” tusi en sus propios domicilios, y también se dedicaban al tráfico de cocaína
➡️2ª… pic.twitter.com/zOWHBJABOz
— Policía Nacional (@policia) November 7, 2025
From Venezuelan prison to transnational criminal network
Born in the mid-2000s in the Tocoron prison, located in Venezuela’s Aragua state, Tren de Aragua emerged as a prison-based organization initially dedicated to controlling internal affairs within the facility. However, in just a few years, it evolved into a complex and decentralized criminal structure, operating both inside and outside Venezuela.
As Venezuela’s economic and political crisis forced millions of citizens to emigrate, Tren de Aragua took advantage of migratory flows to expand its operations across Latin America. In countries such as Colombia, Peru, Chile, and Ecuador, the gang consolidated its presence through activities such as extortion, drug trafficking, human trafficking, smuggling, and migrant smuggling. Its flexible structure and ability to co-opt local criminals have allowed it to adapt quickly to new environments.
In recent years, authorities have identified branches in Central America and the Caribbean, and more recently in the United States and Europe. With today’s operation by Spanish police, it has been confirmed that Tren de Aragua is now active on European soil, primarily engaged in sexual exploitation and organized theft.
Security experts warn that its expansion follows a criminal franchise model, in which different cells operate autonomously but under the same name and methods. This decentralization makes eradication difficult and positions Tren de Aragua as one of the most concerning criminal phenomena in Latin America today.
What is now known as the Aragua Train began as a criminal group in Tocoron prison in Venezuela two decades ago. Credit: Robert Crow, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US / Agenzia Nova.