Mexican authorities arrested Nelson Arturo Echezuruia Alcántara, aka “Nelson,” a leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which is involved in sex trafficking, kidnappings, drug distribution, and multiple femicides.
Police, supported by soldiers and National Guard members, captured Echezuruia along with two alleged accomplices, Lucas Alberto Vielma Rojas and Marcos Gabriel Ortega Sortillo, seizing 44 bags of crystal meth, 18 meth rocks, and marijuana. All three are Venezuelan citizens operating in Morelos, Puebla, Mexico State, and Mexico City.
Public Safety Secretary Omar García Harfuch said Echezuruia was a principal operator of Tren de Aragua, orchestrating femicides, extortion, homicide, and drug trafficking. The gang, originating from Venezuelan prisons, has expanded its operations across the Americas.
The US Ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, praised the arrest, calling it “good for the Mexican people.” Tren de Aragua members face charges in at least 14 US states, and the gang has been linked to forcing women into prostitution in exchange for smuggling fees since at least 2018.
Leave a Reply