Venezuelan migrants stranded at the US–Mexico border in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. Photo: Alejandro Cegarra/file photo.
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—Agents from Venezuela’s Scientific, Penal, and Criminal Investigation Corps (CICPC), assigned to Interpol’s International Police Investigations Directorate, arrested Carlos Cecilio Ariza Danieles, 32, alias Macaco, identified as a member of the Ttren de Aragua (TDA) criminal gang, Últimas Noticias reported.
This marks the first confirmed case of an actual TDA member deported by the Trump administration among 5,671 Venezuelan nationals repatriated from the US since February.
Ariza arrived on April 10 at SimĂłn BolĂvar International Airport in MaiquetĂa, La Guaira state, via the Plan Vuelta a la Patria (Return to the Homeland Program). He had been expelled from Honduras, which received him after his deportation from the United States.
Despite strong claims from the US about the criminal ties of many recently deported Venezuelans—including accusations of TDA membership—no documented cases supported these allegations until Ariza’s arrest.
Arrest linked to Interpol red notice
At the airport, Macaco was detained under an Interpol red notice (A-2484/2-2025) issued by Chile, where he faces charges for alleged involvement in “criminal association, extortionate kidnapping, and extortionate threats.”
The day after his arrest, Ariza appeared before Caracas’ 9th Control Court, which ordered him held in preventive detention pending extradition. The case was later referred to the Supreme Court of Justice’s Criminal Division for a ruling.
Venezuelan authorities have not explained the delay between Ariza’s April arrest and the June 10 news report by Últimas Noticias journalist Eligio Rojas. No officials had previously mentioned the case.
Alleged ties to transnational crimes
Court documents state Ariza “is part of the international criminal organization Tren de Aragua, which uses operatives to carry out crimes, including migrant smuggling, drug trafficking, homicides, extortion, and kidnappings.”
The Interpol red notice details a TDA cell that smuggled a Venezuelan family through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia into Chile, specifically Iquique. After their arrival, the suspects—including Ariza—reportedly held the family hostage, demanding a ransom in US dollars under the threat of death.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court has given Chile 60 days to submit a formal extradition request and supporting evidence. If Chile fails to comply, the court will order Ariza’s release, per ruling No. 257.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/SL
