Tren de Aragua is a transnational organized crime syndicate originating in Venezuela. It was founded in 2014 by Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, Yohan José Romero and Larry Álvarez Núñez.

The organization was associated with Tocorón prison, also known as the Aragua Penitentiary Center, which functioned as its de facto headquarters while Guerrero, known as “Niño Guerrero,” was imprisoned there. Venezuelan security forces retook the prison in 2023, but members of the group’s leadership escaped.

Tren de Aragua expanded into other parts of Latin America and the United States during the Venezuelan refugee crisis. In February 2025, the United States designated the group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

In the Costa Rican news context, Tren de Aragua is identified as one of several foreign criminal organizations reported to be present in Costa Rica as the country confronts increasing organized-crime activity and drug trafficking.