Colombian forces arrested Luis Saúl Pérez Nieto, a suspected leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, following increased military cooperation with the United States.
Key facts
- •Luis Saúl Pérez Nieto was captured in an operation involving Colombian police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
- •The U.S. government has designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization.
- •U.S. Southern Command chief Gen. Francis Donovan recently met with Colombian officials to coordinate strategies against cartel logistics.
- •Chilean officials are prosecuting two extradited suspects for the 2024 abduction and murder of Venezuelan dissident Ronald Ojeda.
- •President Abelardo de la Espriella has prioritized joint anti-cartel operations with the U.S. military.
Colombian security forces captured Luis Saúl Pérez Nieto, a senior leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, on Thursday, August 27, 2026. The U.S. Southern Command announced the arrest on Friday, citing it as evidence of strengthened military cooperation between the U.S. and Colombia under President Abelardo de la Espriella. Pérez Nieto is accused of coordinating the gang's regional weapons and drug-trafficking networks.
Shift in Colombian Security Policy
The arrest marks a significant change in policy under President de la Espriella, who took office earlier this month with a pledge to combat drug traffickers with U.S. assistance. His government has designated Medellín as a hub for a new regional anti-cartel alliance and is permitting joint operations with U.S. military forces on Colombian soil.
Criminal History and Extradition
Pérez Nieto, also known as "Páez" and "Nairobi," allegedly led the expansion of Tren de Aragua into Peru after escaping from Venezuela’s Tocorón penitentiary in 2023. Authorities in Colombia and Peru report that the U.S. has requested his extradition on charges including terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking, and criminal conspiracy.
Regional Crackdowns on Tren de Aragua
Chilean authorities also reported progress against the gang, announcing the extradition of two alleged leaders, Rafael Enrique Gámez Salas and Alfredo Camilo Carrillo Ortiz, to face charges related to the 2024 killing of former Venezuelan army Lt. Ronald Ojeda. U.S. officials, including Attorney General Todd Blanche, highlighted the extraditions as part of a broader effort to dismantle the organization.
Timeline
- 2023Luis Saúl Pérez Nieto and Héctor Guerrero Flores escaped from Venezuela’s Tocorón penitentiary.
- 2024Former Venezuelan army Lt. Ronald Ojeda was abducted and killed in Chile.
- August 27, 2026Colombian security forces captured Luis Saúl Pérez Nieto.
- August 28, 2026The U.S. Southern Command announced the capture and Chilean officials announced the arrival of two extradited gang leaders.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Hindu.
