Overview
- The U.S. Treasury’s OFAC sanctioned seven individuals and four companies tied to Tren de Aragua, freezing assets under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibiting U.S. persons from doing business with them.
- Those designated include Venezuelan entertainer Jimena “Rosita” Araya, whom U.S. authorities accuse of providing support to the group and of aiding leader Héctor “Niño Guerrero” in a 2012 prison escape.
- Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit located one designated person in the country, added the individual to its List of Blocked Persons, filed a complaint with the federal prosecutor and issued alerts to the financial sector while coordinating with OFAC and the DEA.
- U.S. officials say the network laundered proceeds through concerts and club events, naming Global Import Solutions S.A. and the Maiquetía VIP Bar Restaurant in Bogotá as entities used to move and disguise illicit funds.
- The State Department raised its reward to up to $5 million for tips leading to the arrest or conviction of alleged leader Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, who faces U.S. charges including international cocaine trafficking and providing support to a terrorist organization.