Colombian police arrest Venezuelan wanted for Tren de Aragua links in Barrancabermeja with Chilean cooperation
In Barrancabermeja, Santander, Colombia, a complex operation carried out with the judicial cooperation of Chile’s Carabineros and Interpol led to the capture of Venezuelan Alberto Carlos Mejía Hernández, identified as one of the most sought-after members of the Tren de Aragua gang in the region.
Mejía Hernández is a suspect in qualified homicide, and the operation was coordinated through Interpol as part of a program to combat transnational organized crime, according to the Policía Nacional.
The liderazgo figure of the Tren de Aragua reportedly had a red notice against him and a lengthy criminal record, including the homicide of loan shark José Felipe Reyes Ossa, known as “El Rey de Meiggs,” which occurred on June 19 in Ñuñoa, Chile.
Mejía Hernández was placed at the disposal of Colombia’s Fiscalía General de la Nación to continue the diplomatic procedures for his extradition.
“Thanks to the directors of the Policía de Investigaciones (PDI), Eduardo Cerna, and Carabineros de Chile, General Director Marcelo Araya Zapata, for recognizing the Colombian National Police’s work and for continuing to work together against organized crime,” posted General Carlos Fernando Triana, director of the Policía Nacional, on X.
Earlier, on July 18, Chile’s Public Prosecutor’s Office issued an international arrest warrant for a young man initially identified as Osmar Alexander Ferrer Ramírez. After fingerprinting and information exchange with Interpol, authorities determined that name was a pseudonym.
Alias Larry Changa, another Tren de Aragua leader, was extradited to Chile two weeks earlier.
Context from Chilean media notes that after the loan shark homicide, Mejía Hernández—then identified as Ferrer Ramírez—was released following an imputation. He had presented a bail-release document whose authenticity is now under investigation by Chilean authorities.
According to El País, during the charging hearing the magistrate warned that the Venezuelan suspect and two other members posed a “danger to public security,” with a risk of flight, and stressed the seriousness of releasing such individuals.
To clarify the reasons for Mejía Hernández’s release, Chilean prosecutors opened an investigation led by Marcos Pastén over alleged falsification of the public document. The episode also prompted raids on branches of the judiciary and the offices where the case was handled.
Commentary and implications
– The operation underscores the growing importance of international cooperation, interagency collaboration, and the use of Interpol red notices in targeting transnational criminal networks.
– The case illustrates the complexities of extradition processes that span multiple countries and legal systems, including verification of identities and documentation.
– The continued pursuit of Tren de Aragua leadership across borders signals a sustained commitment by Latin American and Caribbean law enforcement to dismantle one of the region’s most infamous criminal organizations.
Summary: Colombian authorities, with Chilean and Interpol assistance, captured a high-ranking Tren de Aragua member in Barrancabermeja, linking him to a Chilean homicide case and highlighting ongoing cross-border extradition efforts and investigative scrutiny of prior releases tied to this case.
Potential follow-up for readers: A brief explainer on how extradition between Colombia, Chile, and other countries works, and what readers should know about international cooperation in fighting organized crime.