SANTIAGO, April 11 (Reuters) – President Gabriel Boric of Chile announced on Thursday that he has recalled the country’s ambassador in Caracas for consultations. This decision follows remarks made by Venezuela’s foreign minister regarding the criminal organization known as Tren de Aragua.
During an event held alongside his Colombian counterpart earlier this week, Venezuela’s top diplomat Yvan Gil dismissed the existence of the notorious Venezuelan criminal gang, which has been accused of various criminal activities including assassinations, drug trafficking, and kidnapping. Gil referred to the Tren de Aragua as a “fiction created by the international media.”
President Boric expressed concern over these remarks, stating, “The irresponsible statements of Venezuela’s foreign minister, ignoring the existence of the Tren de Aragua, are worrying and constitute a serious insult to those who have been victims of this organization.”
Chile, known as one of Latin America’s safest and most stable countries, has recently seen a rise in violent crime, which has become a significant concern for voters and a challenge for the Boric administration.
The Tren de Aragua has drawn criticism for its alleged involvement in activities such as human smuggling, kidnapping, and drug trafficking within Venezuela. In September 2023, Venezuela claimed to have dismantled the Tren de Aragua following a government operation aimed at regaining control of its prison system.
President Boric has stated that he will seek information from Chilean Ambassador Jaime Gazmuri and has instructed him to take all necessary actions in response to the situation. Requests for comments from Venezuela’s information ministry were not immediately answered.
