Spanish National Police announced Thursday that six members of the Tren de Aragua criminal network were arrested in Madrid after a string of armed robberies that stole roughly €3.8 million in cash, jewelry and cryptocurrency. The suspects were linked to at least three high‑profile attacks on affluent victims, the latest of which involved a home invasion on the city’s outskirts in August 2025.

€1.5 Million in watches and jewelry taken in the August 2025 Madrid raid

The investigation began after police responded to a violent break‑in where gunmen used a signal jammer to block communications and fled with watches and jewellery valued at €1.5 million, plus €200,000 in cash and crypto transfers worth €1.3 million. according to the police briefing, the gang had meticulously surveilled the target’s routine before striking , a pattern repeated in later robberies.

Tren de Aragua’s evolution from Venezuelan prison gang to European crime syndicate

Originating in the Venezuelan state of Aragua, the group was once a prison‑based outfit before expanding under the protection of the Maduro regime.. As the source reported,the gang now operates across Latin America and Europe, engaging in theft, extortion, kidnapping, human trafficking, drug smuggling and cybercrime. The Madrid raid uncovered a replica firearm, a frequency jammer, bent licence plates, 100 grams of narcotics and €2,700 in cash, underscoring the breadth of its illicit portfolio.

Previous Spanish crackdown netted 13 suspects, including relatives of leader Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero

Authorities highlighted that this latest operation follows a 2024 sweep that dismantled a local cell and arrested 13 individuals linked to the gang’s leader, Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero. The earlier bust was portrayed by officials as a major blow to the organization’s foothold in Spain, and the recent arrests reinforce that narrative.

Who remains at large? Unidentified accomplices and lingering threats

Police say the six detainees face charges of membership in a criminal organization, robbery with violence, unlawful detention, fraud and crimes against public health, but investigators are still searching for additional participants. the source notes that the Venezuelan government claimed the group was dismantled in September 2023, a statement that appears contradicted by the gang’s continued activity in Europe.

What remains unclear about the gang’s crypto operations?

While the police seized crypto transfers worth €1.3 million, details about the wallets, the blockchain platforms used and the ultimate beneficiaries were not disclosed. Analysts caution that the lack of transparency makes it difficult to assess the full financial impact of the gang’s cyber‑enabled thefts.