Venezuelan president offers Trump help in tracking Tren de Aragua leaders
Proposal comes amid US military buildup near Venezuelan waters and stalled diplomatic ties
CARACAS, Venezuela (MNTV) — President Nicolás Maduro has proposed assisting US President Donald Trump in locating the leaders of the Tren de Aragua cartel, a Venezuelan criminal network that has become a top priority for Washington as tensions escalate in the Caribbean.
The offer comes as the US masses troops and warships near Venezuelan waters and conducts anti-narcotics operations, including the destruction of boats carrying alleged criminals, according to people familiar with the developments. Maduro reportedly conveyed the proposal to US envoy Ric Grenell earlier this month, alongside a letter to Trump calling for direct dialogue to ease hostilities.
In the letter, seen by Bloomberg, Maduro denied that Venezuela is a major supplier of narcotics to the US and appealed for a new approach. “I respectfully invite you, President, to promote peace through constructive dialogue and mutual understanding throughout the hemisphere,” he wrote.
While Venezuela’s Information Ministry declined to comment, Grenell confirmed to CBS News that he remains in contact with Maduro’s representatives, though he provided no further details. The White House, however, dismissed the overture.
“The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela, it is a narco-terror cartel, and Maduro is not a legitimate president,” a spokesperson said, reiterating the US policy of “maximum pressure” and denying any ongoing negotiations.
Tren de Aragua has grown into one of the hemisphere’s most dangerous gangs, operating from Venezuela to Canada and Chile. Its activities span extortion, trafficking of drugs, arms and people, prostitution, illegal mining, robbery, and kidnapping. Several of its senior leaders are believed to reside outside Venezuela, complicating law enforcement efforts.
Legal constraints also remain. Venezuela’s constitution prohibits the extradition of its citizens, limiting any potential cooperation with US authorities. Notably, the brother of the gang’s leader, Héctor “Niño” Guerrero, was arrested last year in Spain.
In parallel, Trump has intensified efforts against Venezuelans in the US alleged to be affiliated with Tren de Aragua, with hundreds arrested earlier this year and transferred to detention facilities in El Salvador.
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