Suspected Tren de Aragua leader captured as US-Colombia ties deepen

Colombian security forces captured a suspected senior leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), officials said on Friday, as the U.S. and Colombia expand cooperation against drug trafficking and organized crime.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) identified the suspect as Luis Páez Nieto.

“TdA is a designated foreign terrorist organization [that] drives corruption, fuels drug trafficking, and uses extreme violence to intimidate communities and government officials across the Western Hemisphere,” DEA Administrator Terry Cole said in a statement posted on X.

“This arrest hits TdA where it hurts and demonstrates what determined partnerships can do,” Cole added. “DEA is proud to stand with Columbia.”

Colombian officials said he was captured on Thursday in Bogotá and was believed to have coordinated weapons and drug-trafficking operations for the gang throughout Latin America.

Páez Nieto, who is also known as “Páez,” “Nairobi,” or “Pérez Nieto” was a leading Tren de Aragua figure in Peru and a close associate of the group’s founder, Héctor Guerrero Flores, Colombian authorities said.

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) described the arrest as an early result of closer security ties between Washington and Bogotá under Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office this month after pledging to intensify the fight against drug cartels with U.S. assistance.

“Narco-terrorists have no safe haven in our hemisphere,” SOUTHCOM said. “We stand united with our partners to dismantle these criminal networks and protect our homeland.”

The U.S. had sought the suspect’s arrest and extradition on allegations including terrorism, money laundering, and drug trafficking, according to The Associated Press.

Tren de Aragua emerged from a Venezuelan prison and has expanded its operations across South America and into the U.S. Authorities have linked the group to extortion, human trafficking, arms trafficking, and other crimes.

The arrest follows a broader U.S. campaign against transnational criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere, including deadly strikes on alleged drug boats. Colombia’s government has welcomed expanded security coordination with the United States, including joint operations targeting cartel networks.

It was not immediately clear when Pérez Nieto might face extradition proceedings.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.