The term "Tren de Aragua", recently seen in the news, refers to:

The correct answer is option 1.

In News

• The Tren de Aragua (TDA) is a Venezuelan-origin street gang, recently targeted by the Donald Trump administration under the 18th-century Alien Enemies Act, marking the first use of this law since World War II.
• The U.S. has deported 261 Venezuelans, including suspected members of Tren de Aragua, citing them as a threat to national security.

Key Points

• Origins:
  • The Tren de Aragua (meaning "Train from Aragua" in Spanish) was founded in 2014 in Tocorón prison, Venezuela, by Héctor "Niño" Guerrero Flores.
  • Initially started as a prison gang, it has since expanded into organized crime across Latin America.
• Criminal Activities:
  • The gang engages in drug and human trafficking, extortion, murder, and kidnapping.
  • It operates out of prisons, using front businesses like zoos, restaurants, and amusement parks to launder money.
• International Presence:
  • The gang has spread beyond Venezuela into Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina.
  • In the United States, it has been linked to criminal activities in New York, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, and California.
• U.S. Crackdown:
  • The Trump administration designated TDA as a "transnational criminal organization".
  • The FBI and Homeland Security have issued warnings about the gang’s expansion in U.S. cities.
  • Authorities have placed a $12 million bounty for the capture of TDA leaders.
    • Hence, option 1 is correct.

Additional Information

• The U.S. government described TDA as "one of the most violent and ruthless criminal gangs on Earth."
• A September security report showed TDA members armed with high-grade weapons, prompting stricter law enforcement actions.
• Tocorón Prison, once controlled by the gang, was raided by Venezuelan authorities, but many TDA members escaped, fueling concerns of increased violence.