The United States Department of State and Department of Justice on Thursday announced a combined reward of up to 50 million United States dollars for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the top three leaders of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
In a statement, the State Department said the new and increased offers fall under its Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program. Washington designated Tren de Aragua a Foreign Terrorist Organization last year.
The reward for Yohan José Romero, known as “Yohan Petrica,” has been raised from 4 million to 20 million dollars. For Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, known as “El Viejo,” it rises from 5 million to 15 million. A new reward of up to 15 million has been announced for Juan Gabriel Rivas Núñez, known as “Juancho.”
According to court documents, Romero leads the group and directs its drug trafficking, illegal gold mining in Venezuela, and murders. Mosquera Serrano and Rivas Núñez are his second-in-command. Mosquera Serrano oversees operations in the United States, Colombia and Central America, and Rivas Núñez those in Venezuela. Mosquera Serrano is also on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list.
On July 29, an indictment in the Southern District of Texas charged all three with providing material support to a terrorist organization. Mosquera Serrano also faces cocaine distribution charges.