The gang in Venezuela

 

Flores, security forces outside the prison Venezuela Ministry of the Interior/ TT 

 

The gang in Venezuela 

Hunting across South America - the king of prison on the loose 

  

Across South America, the hunt is on for Héctor Guerrero Flores, leader of the criminal gang that controlled the Tocoron prison in Venezuela. The BBC reports.  

 

The prison - which included nightclubs, a swimming pool, a baseball field and a mini zoo on its grounds - was stormed last week by 11,000 police and soldiers to finally regain control of the prison from the notorious Tren de Aragua gang.  

 

Flores has reportedly been in and out of prison over the past decade. When the authorities now regained control of the institution, they discovered that the leader, the one who effectively controlled Tocoro, was missing.  

 

According to the BBC, he is suspected of having recently defected from prison. 

 

  

Journalists were shown around the gangs' luxurious prison: "The leadership layer shattered" 

 

The authorities in Venezuela this weekend invited journalists to a tour of the Tocoron prison in the state of Aragua, which has been run by criminal gangs for years.  

 

Security forces recently regained control of the prison, and during Saturday's press briefing, swimming pools, nightclubs and restaurants were displayed, among other things. There was also a mini zoo with flamingos and an ostrich.  

 

According to the authorities, around 80 high-ranking members of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang were arrested in the massive crackdown on the prison. 

 

- We have completely destroyed the leadership layer [...] It is gone, says Admiral Remigio Ceballos according to CNN.