Rocket launchers, explosives, grenades, weapons, cocaine and marijuana but also machines for “mining” bitcoins or motorcycles: the authorities exposed on Thursday part of what they seized in the north-central Tocoron prison, in the hands of of one of the most feared gangs in Venezuela.
On Wednesday, authorities deployed some 11,000 law enforcement personnel with armored vehicles to retake the prison from the Tren de Aragua (Aragua Train), which has spread its tentacles throughout the country and at least eight others in America Latin, notably Colombia, Peru and Chile.
“It was a successful and impeccable operation that allowed us to deal a hard blow to criminal groups,” said the Minister of the Interior and Justice, Admiral Remigio Ceballos, during a press conference given in the prison yard.
All around the loot of the police is exposed, like in a street market, with explanatory panels.
Sniper rifles and hand grenades are placed on a table, two anti-tank rocket launchers, explosives and detonators placed on the floor, while computers for mining bitcoins are stacked on top of each other. Packages of drugs sit on other tables.
Journalists were not allowed to tour the rest of the prison.
Tocoron was the base of the Tren de Aragua led by Hector Guerrero Flores known as "Niño Guerrero" (child warrior), who was imprisoned there but seemed to be able to leave at will. Authorities have not said whether they know his whereabouts.
According to an investigation carried out by Venezuelan journalist Ronna Risquez, interviewed by AFP, the police until then remained on the outside and the management of the prison was in the hands of the gang which extorted prisoners but offered unusual services. with swimming pool, zoo, betting halls and sports fields, as confirmed by several prisoners' wives.
Many women and young children lived in the prison with their spouses, or could spend long stays there.
Tocoron had some 1,600 inmates who were transferred to other prisons in the country. A “restructuring process” of the penitentiary will begin.
Mr. Ceballos did not give figures for those injured during the operation, which he said had been prepared by security forces for a year.
Four officials were arrested during the Tocoron takeover. They are accused of complicity with the criminals who ran the prison.
“There will be no impunity. We are attacking all criminals and all accomplices,” Mr. Ceballos promised.
“More than 60 individuals belonging to a large criminal gang have been identified,” said Mr. Ceballos, without expressly mentioning the Tren de Aragua. “We are in the process of obtaining high-level criminal information” with a view to “future captures ", he added.
“These criminal gangs mistreated the prisoners, it was a kind of slavery,” he said.
The minister said the animals in the prison zoo had died in a fire caused by inmates the day before.
On Thursday, dozens of wives and mothers were still gathered in front of the center's doors waiting for news of their loved ones and to know where they had been transferred.
“Where is my son?” shouts Doris Colmenares, mother of Enyer Colmenares, who escaped during the expulsion and was captured soon after.
“He surrendered,” she told AFP, showing a photo on her cellphone of her son and another fugitive next to the officers who captured them.
“I want information, I want answers,” said Taiselis Nieves, 30, who was waiting to learn her husband’s fate.
Ceballos said security forces respected the prisoners' rights during the operation and the transfers took place normally.
The day before, family members of detainees accused the police of having robbed them and of having "looted" the prison.
21/09/2023 23:30:47 - Tocoron (Venezuela) (AFP) - © 2023 AFP
