Cúcuta, Colombia – Authorities in Cúcuta have arrested Heider Parra, known as “Alias HD,” a key figure in the transnational criminal institution, the Aragua Train. Parra, the alleged main Logistics and Financial Articulator for the group at the Colombia-Ecuador border, was apprehended after six months evading capture with falsified documents.
Parra is accused of trafficking weapons and ammunition to support the Aragua Train’s terrorist cells and laundering illicit funds through extortion and smuggling. Investigations indicate he lived a lavish lifestyle, displaying gold chains and designer watches. His capture, alongside recent arrests like Carlos Alfredo Segura Hernández, “Alias Segura” or ”El Loco,” represents a meaningful blow to the organization’s operations in the region.
The Aragua Train originated in a Venezuelan prison, Tocorón, where Parra escaped with 41 other inmates.”Alias Segura” was arrested August 7th in Bogotá and Cota, Cundinamarca, for weapons and explosives trafficking, and is linked to a 2019 attack on a police officer. Authorities seized weapons,grenades,and marijuana during his arrest.
The Aragua Train has expanded beyond Venezuela, establishing a presence in Colombia and Ecuador, and is known for violence, extortion, and control of illicit markets. The recent arrests signal a coordinated effort to dismantle the organization’s network.