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The statement issued on March 17, 2025, by María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia, leaders of the Venezuelan opposition, is a forceful attack against Nicolás Maduro.
In it, they directly accuse him of being the leader of two of the most dangerous criminal organizations in Latin America: the Tren de Aragua and the Cartel of the Suns.
Machado and González claim that these organizations do not operate independently but are instruments of Maduro’s regime.
According to the statement, the Tren de Aragua is involved in drug trafficking, sex trafficking, and other serious crimes, affecting both Venezuelans and citizens of other countries. The Cartel of the Suns, meanwhile, is allegedly composed of senior government officials and military personnel engaged in large-scale drug trafficking.
The text highlights how these mafias have extended their reach beyond Venezuela. The Tren de Aragua, originating in Aragua state, has committed numerous murders both inside and outside the country, including in Chile, according to data from the Chilean Prosecutor’s Office.
In Santiago, for instance, it is blamed for assassinations and extortion activities. Additionally, the statement mentions cases in Peru and Colombia, where the gang has been linked to human trafficking networks.
The opposition leaders also point to the Maduro regime’s complicity in these criminal activities. They allege that corruption and institutional collapse in Venezuela have allowed these organizations to thrive.
They call on international institutions to act decisively, supporting U.S. efforts to dismantle these networks.
The statement emphasizes the Venezuelan immigration crisis as a key factor in the Tren de Aragua’s expansion. More than 7 million Venezuelans have fled the country, according to a March 2025 UN report, and among them, members of these gangs have infiltrated, bringing crime to countries like Mexico and the United States.
In the U.S., authorities have identified Tren de Aragua members crossing the border, linking them to murders and other crimes.
Machado and González urge the democratic countries of the region to recognize the severity of the problem. They denounce that the Maduro regime is not only a threat to Venezuela but to the entire continent by allowing organized crime to expand unchecked. They demand that those who belong to or support the Tren de Aragua and other Venezuelan criminal networks be identified, arrested, and punished.
Furthermore, the statement calls on democratic governments to protect Venezuelans, both inside and outside the country. They request a protection regime for Venezuelan immigrants, many of whom are victims of these mafias.
They denounce that most Venezuelan citizens live under a criminal regime that violates the Constitution and popular sovereignty, and that the fight must continue until democracy is restored in Venezuela.
The text also mentions the regime’s impact on the Venezuelan population. According to a March 2025 Human Rights Watch report, repression in Venezuela has reached alarming levels, with arbitrary detentions and torture of opponents.
Machado and González argue that as long as Maduro remains in power, the suffering of the Venezuelan people and regional insecurity will not cease.
https://twitter.com/ReporteYa/status/1901811499502371014
Maduro’s response quickly went viral on social media.
Finally, the statement reflects the opposition’s support for U.S. measures to combat these mafias. In an interview with local media in March 2025, Machado stated that sanctions and international actions are essential to pressure the regime. In conclusion, Machado and González’s statement not only accuses Maduro of leading a criminal network but also seeks to mobilize the international community to confront what they consider a transnational threat. Their message is clear: the Chavista regime has not only destroyed Venezuela but is exporting its criminal model throughout Latin America.
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