The U.S. Treasury Department has taken significant action against Giovanni Vicente Mosquera Serrano, who is believed to be the leader of Tren de Aragua, a notorious Venezuelan gang. This move comes as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to combat what they describe as foreign criminal threats to the United States.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced that Mosquera Serrano has been sanctioned and indicted by the Department of Justice. Court documents reveal that he faces serious charges, including drug trafficking and terrorism. He is now on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, with a $3 million reward for information that could lead to his arrest.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Tren de Aragua for allegedly terrorizing communities and facilitating drug trafficking into the U.S. This action is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration to crack down on foreign gangs and criminal networks that they claim pose a threat to national security.
Earlier this year, the administration designated Tren de Aragua and other Latin American gangs as "foreign terrorist organizations." This classification is typically reserved for groups with violent political agendas. The Trump administration has argued that these gangs, including Tren de Aragua, are collaborating with the Venezuelan government under President Nicolás Maduro. This assertion has been used to justify invoking emergency powers, specifically the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, to expedite the deportation of gang members.
Critics of the administration’s approach argue that these deportations violate the rights of immigrants, particularly since many of those expelled did not have criminal records. Some lawyers have claimed that individuals were targeted based on their tattoos or clothing rather than any actual criminal behavior. The Department of Homeland Security has denied these allegations.
Interestingly, some U.S. officials have expressed skepticism about the extent of Maduro’s control over Tren de Aragua. An April memo from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence suggested that while the Venezuelan environment allows the gang to operate, the Maduro regime likely does not direct its activities in the U.S.
The U.S. and Colombia previously offered joint rewards for information leading to Mosquera Serrano’s arrest, highlighting the international concern over Tren de Aragua’s activities. The gang has been linked to various serious crimes, including human trafficking and money laundering, and its growth has raised alarms across Latin America.
Despite the serious allegations and actions taken against Mosquera Serrano and Tren de Aragua, experts indicate that there is little evidence to suggest that the gang has significantly infiltrated the United States.