U.S. Treasury Targets Alleged Aragua Train Financiers, Including Connections to Colombian Nightlife
BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA – Teh U.S. Treasury Department has levied new sanctions against individuals allegedly linked to the venezuelan criminal organization, Tren de Aragua, expanding its efforts to disrupt the group’s financial networks. The sanctions, announced in recent months, target key figures believed to be involved in laundering proceeds from drug trafficking and other illicit activities, with a surprising nexus to the Colombian entertainment industry.
These actions signal a heightened U.S. focus on dismantling the Aragua Train’s operations, which have expanded beyond Venezuela and are increasingly impacting regional security. The sanctions aim to sever the flow of funds that enable the gang’s criminal enterprises, perhaps curbing its influence in Colombia and beyond. The move comes as authorities investigate the group’s growing presence in several South American countries, raising concerns about its ability to destabilize communities and exploit vulnerable populations.
Among those sanctioned is Eryk Manuel Landaeta Hernández, alias Eric, arrested in Colombia in October 2024. U.S. authorities allege Landaeta Hernández served as the financial and logistical head of the Aragua Train in bogotá, operating the Maiquetía VIP Bar Restaurant nightclub.The Treasury Department asserts that Landaeta Hernández utilized events featuring international artists and DJs, including singer Rosita, to facilitate drug sales and launder the resulting profits.
According to the Treasury Department, a portion of the income generated from Rosita’s performances “in various nightclubs in Colombia” was directed to the Tren de Aragua’s coffers. The sanctions also target Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias Niño Guerrero, identified as the head of the organization, who was added to the sanctions list in July. Earlier, in June, the Treasury Department sanctioned José Manuel Mosquera Serrano.
The U.S. government contends that these individuals are integral to the Aragua Train’s ability to operate and expand its criminal activities, and these sanctions are intended to disrupt those operations by freezing their assets and restricting their access to the U.S. financial system.
