Mexico City and El Paso, Texas, found themselves at the center of a sweeping crackdown on the notorious Tren de Aragua gang this fall, as authorities on both sides of the border arrested key figures linked to the transnational criminal organization. The events, unfolding over the first week of October 2025, have reignited concerns about the gang’s reach and the growing complexities of cross-border crime in the Americas.
On October 4, 2025, Mexico’s Security Ministry announced the arrest of Nelson Arturo “N,” a 29-year-old man described as the local leader and main operator of the Tren de Aragua gang in Mexico City. According to The Associated Press, Nelson Arturo “N” was captured alongside two other men, aged 36 and 37, in a targeted operation by security agents. Authorities reported that the suspects were found in possession of more than 100 doses of drugs, two cellphones, and cash—evidence pointing to the group’s ongoing criminal activities in the capital.
Mexican officials stated that Nelson Arturo “N” is wanted on a slew of charges, including human trafficking, drug dealing, homicide, kidnapping, and extortion. In keeping with Mexican law, the authorities did not release his full surname. The trio was promptly placed under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General’s Office, which will determine their legal status in the coming days.
Tren de Aragua’s origins trace back more than a decade to the central state of Aragua in Venezuela, where the gang first emerged in a notoriously lawless prison environment. Over time, the group has capitalized on regional instability, expanding its operations as more than 7.7 million Venezuelans fled economic turmoil and migrated to neighboring Latin American countries and the United States. The gang’s notoriety has only grown as it established footholds in countries with large Venezuelan migrant populations, such as Peru and Colombia, both of which have accused Tren de Aragua of fueling violence and organized crime.
The United States has taken an increasingly aggressive stance against the gang. During the Trump administration, Tren de Aragua was declared a terrorist organization, with officials blaming it for a surge in violence and illicit drug dealing in several U.S. cities. Former President Trump has repeatedly accused the group of operating under the control of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, though a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment contradicted this claim. The exact size of the gang remains unclear, but its influence and reputation for brutality are undisputed.
The crackdown extended beyond Mexico’s borders. On October 3, 2025, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a strike on a small boat off the coast of Venezuela, which he accused of carrying drugs and being linked to Tren de Aragua. This action was part of a broader U.S. maritime buildup in the Caribbean—described by officials as unlike anything seen in recent times. According to The Associated Press, at least three such strikes have targeted vessels originating from Venezuela in recent weeks. Trump, in a post regarding the first strike last month, claimed the targeted boat was transporting members of the Tren de Aragua gang, further underscoring the group’s perceived threat to U.S. security.
Meanwhile, just weeks earlier in El Paso, Texas, another dramatic arrest unfolded. On September 4, 2025, Alexis Ramon Perozo-Monasterio, a 36-year-old Venezuelan man convicted of raping and murdering a 10-year-old child in his home country, was apprehended by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). According to a DPS news release cited by San Antonio Express-News, Perozo-Monasterio is a confirmed member of the Tren de Aragua gang and had escaped from a Venezuelan prison after being sentenced to 17 years for his crimes.
The arrest was the result of a tip-off that Perozo-Monasterio was hiding in a hotel in El Paso. When DPS agents arrived, he attempted a daring escape by jumping out of a second-floor window, but was quickly subdued and taken into custody. After being handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he was deported from the United States. This swift removal was facilitated by an earlier charge of “alien inadmissibility” issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in April 2023, which barred him from obtaining any type of visa to enter the country.
Perozo-Monasterio’s capture was part of Operation Lone Star, Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s high-profile initiative aimed at strengthening law enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border. The operation has focused on targeting criminal networks like Tren de Aragua, which Abbott declared a “Tier 1 gang” and “foreign terrorist organization” in 2024. The governor also directed a dedicated task force to disrupt the gang’s activities, particularly those involving drug and sex trafficking—a move that drew national attention during the 2024 presidential campaign as debates over border security and public safety intensified.
The reach of Tren de Aragua has not been limited to Mexico and the United States. On October 1, 2025, five alleged members of the gang were extradited from the United States to Chile, including one individual linked to the killing of a former Venezuelan soldier the previous year. This coordinated action, reported by The Associated Press, highlights the international scope of law enforcement efforts to dismantle the gang’s network.
Despite these high-profile arrests and military actions, the challenge of confronting Tren de Aragua remains daunting. The gang’s rapid expansion is deeply intertwined with the migration crisis stemming from Venezuela’s economic collapse. As millions of Venezuelans have sought refuge abroad, criminal groups have exploited the vulnerabilities of displaced populations, recruiting new members and expanding their illicit enterprises across the Americas.
Law enforcement agencies in countries such as Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States have all sounded the alarm about the gang’s role in escalating violence, drug trafficking, and human exploitation. The group’s ability to operate across borders—and its willingness to engage in extreme violence—has made it a formidable adversary for authorities.
For many observers, the recent wave of arrests and interdictions represents both a significant victory and a sobering reminder of the ongoing threat posed by transnational criminal organizations. The actions taken by Mexican and U.S. authorities demonstrate a growing willingness to collaborate and share intelligence, but also reveal the complexity of dismantling networks that thrive on regional instability and porous borders.
As the legal proceedings against Nelson Arturo “N” and his associates move forward in Mexico, and as other alleged gang members face justice in Chile and elsewhere, the international community will be watching closely. Whether these actions mark a turning point in the fight against Tren de Aragua—or merely the latest chapter in a long struggle—remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the battle against organized crime in the Americas is far from over, and the stakes for public safety, regional stability, and the rule of law could not be higher.
