Prosecutor Barros revealed that the Tren de Aragua crime syndicate threatened an international artist with grenade attacks prior to a scheduled performance in Chile, according to local media reports. The threat emerged as part of a broader investigation into the gang’s expansion and its infiltration of professional sectors, including the national banking system.
Grenade Threats Against International Performer
The threat against the unnamed international artist was disclosed by Prosecutor Barros as part of the ongoing analysis of the Tren de Aragua’s operational tactics in Chile. According to reports from CNN Chile, the syndicate explicitly threatened to “throw grenades” to coerce or intimidate the performer before their show.
“We are going to throw grenades.”
Prosecutor Barros, citing threats from Tren de Aragua
This tactic reflects a pattern of violent extortion used by the syndicate to exert control over high-profile events and individuals within the country.
Infiltration of the Banking Sector
The investigation into the syndicate has uncovered a connection between the gang and a high-ranking employee at BancoEstado. Local media reports indicate that a Venezuelan executive worked at the state-owned bank while simultaneously engaging in extortion activities for the syndicate.
The discovery led to the immediate closure of a BancoEstado branch following the revelation of the executive’s ties to Tren de Aragua. According to reports from La Cuarta, the executive was apprehended as part of a larger coordinated effort to dismantle the gang’s local infrastructure.
The Scope of Operation Tokyo
These developments are linked to “Operación Tokio,” a multi-agency crackdown targeting the syndicate’s diverse criminal portfolio. According to customs officials and local reports, the operation has opened a specific line of inquiry into the smuggling of automobiles from Chile to Venezuela.
The operation highlights the syndicate’s ability to manage both street-level violence and complex logistics. Prosecutor Barros provided a bleak assessment of the group’s trajectory, stating that the current expansion of Tren de Aragua in Chile is a systemic issue that is unlikely to change quickly.
- Primary Target: Tren de Aragua crime syndicate.
- Key Operation: Operación Tokio (Operation Tokyo).
- Criminal Activities: Car smuggling, extortion, and professional infiltration.
- Impacted Entities: An international artist and BancoEstado.
