Ecuador deports Venezuelan citizen allegedly linked to Tren de Aragua

Ecuador has deported a Venezuelan national, identified as V. Contreras, who is accused of being a member of the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua. The operation took place in Tulcán, a city on Ecuador's northern border with Colombia, and was a joint effort between the Undersecretariat of Migration and the National Police as part of ongoing migration control measures.

According to the Undersecretariat of Migration, V. Contreras is allegedly involved in recruiting, transporting, and defrauding migrants. Following his deportation, he is now prohibited from entering Ecuador for a period of ten years. In addition to the deportation, two Ecuadorian citizens were each fined $1,446 for facilitating the individual's evasion of migration controls.

The Tren de Aragua is a significant concern for Ecuadorian authorities. President Daniel Noboa has designated the group as "terrorist" amid the "internal armed conflict" declared in 2024 against criminal gangs. Originating in Venezuela, Tren de Aragua is considered that country's most powerful gang, responsible for crimes including murder, extortion, kidnapping, and human trafficking. The organization has expanded its operations across the Americas since 2018.