In the shadowy world of Venezuela's illegal mining operations, one group has emerged with alarming power and influence: Tren de Guayana. Allegations suggest that this gang has exploited its connections to President Nicolás Maduro's administration to eliminate rivals and tighten its grip on the lucrative mining state of Bolívar.
Tren de Guayana, which first appeared in 2007 as a street gang in the Vista al Sol neighborhood of San Félix, has transformed over the years into a formidable force in the region. The group has established absolute control over El Callao, a mining town in southern Bolívar celebrated for its rich gold deposits. Yet, the path to dominance was fraught with challenges. For two long years, Tren de Guayana battled the Peru Syndicate, also known as the Toto and Zacarias gang, which had held sway in the area from 2010 to 2022. Competing for the same territory was the R Organization, another criminal entity eager to claim control.
