Venezuela’s Ex-Colonel REVEALS State Plot

Former Venezuelan military officer challenges U.S. intelligence findings, insists the notorious Tren de Aragua gang operates as a state-sponsored tool in Maduro’s campaign against America.

At a Glance

  • Former Venezuelan Lt. Col. José Arocha disputes U.S. intelligence reports downplaying connections between the Tren de Aragua gang and President Nicolás Maduro’s regime
  • Arocha describes the gang as part of Venezuela’s “asymmetrical warfare” strategy aimed at destabilizing the United States
  • DNI Tulsi Gabbard fired two top National Intelligence Council officials over a report contradicting President Trump’s claims about Venezuelan gang members
  • The controversial intelligence report found it “unlikely” that Maduro directly oversees Tren de Aragua’s U.S. operations
  • Critics view the firings as politically motivated rather than based on intelligence assessment failures

Former Venezuelan Officer Challenges U.S. Intelligence Assessment

José Arocha, a former Venezuelan military lieutenant colonel, has strongly criticized a recent U.S. intelligence assessment regarding the Tren de Aragua gang and its ties to the Maduro regime. While U.S. intelligence officials found “no solid connection” between the Venezuelan government and the notorious gang’s operations in America, Arocha presents a starkly different picture. He maintains that Tren de Aragua functions as a proxy entity for the Venezuelan government, deliberately deployed to create chaos and instability within the United States and neighboring countries.

Arocha specifically points to what he believes are fundamental oversights in the U.S. intelligence community’s analysis. “The report overlooks the warfare dimension and the role of Tren de Aragua as an enabler for the Venezuelan regime’s hybrid warfare strategy,” Arocha states. This assessment directly contradicts the intelligence community’s conclusion that the Maduro government does not actively direct Tren de Aragua’s criminal enterprises within U.S. borders. 

Intelligence Community Shake-Up

The disputed assessment has triggered significant fallout within U.S. intelligence circles. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard recently fired two top officials from the National Intelligence Council (NIC) – acting director Mike Collins and his deputy, Maria Langan-Riekhof. According to Gabbard’s office, the dismissals addressed the “weaponization and politicization” of intelligence, specifically regarding a report that contradicted President Trump’s claims about Venezuelan gang members operating in the United States.

“DNI Gabbard is purging intelligence officials over a report that the Trump administration finds politically inconvenient. Whatever the administration is trying to protect … it’s not our national security,” said Mark Warner.

The declassified NIC report, released following a Freedom of Information Act request by the Freedom of the Press Foundation, questioned President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members. Trump had claimed these individuals were part of a U.S. “invasion” orchestrated by Maduro, while the intelligence assessment found insufficient evidence to support such direct state sponsorship, though it acknowledged some low-level Venezuelan officials might facilitate migration of gang members. 

Claims of State-Sponsored Criminal Activities

Arocha’s allegations extend beyond mere government tolerance of the gang. He describes Venezuelan prisons, particularly Tocorón, as luxurious facilities for organized crime rather than actual correctional institutions. According to Arocha, these prisons function as operational bases for Tren de Aragua with government awareness and support. He further contends that a widely publicized Venezuelan government raid on Tocorón in 2023 was deliberately staged to create the appearance of action while allowing key gang leaders to escape.

The former military officer offers the kidnapping and murder of Venezuelan dissident Ronald Ojeda in Chile as a potential example of Tren de Aragua carrying out operations beneficial to the Maduro regime. Arocha suggests this indicates coordination at higher levels than the “low-level officials” acknowledged in the U.S. intelligence report. He further alleges the Venezuelan regime acts as a proxy for countries like Russia, China, and Iran, employing various tools, including criminal organizations, to destabilize Latin America and ultimately the United States. 

“Having spent five years working at the NIC, I can personally attest the org is the heartbeat of apolitical U.S. all-source analysis, traditionally drawing the best of the IC’s analysts together to tackle and produce assessments on the hardest issues,” said Jonathan Panikoff.

Political Dimensions of Intelligence Assessment

The controversy highlights deep tensions between the intelligence community and the current administration. Alexa Henning, Deputy Chief of Staff to DNI Gabbard, described the firings as necessary due to the politicization of intelligence by “Biden holdovers.” This reflects President Trump’s historical view of intelligence agencies as part of a politically biased “deep state.” Meanwhile, Senator Mark Warner has criticized the dismissals as politically motivated rather than based on legitimate national security concerns.

The dispute over Tren de Aragua’s relationship with the Venezuelan government continues to divide intelligence professionals and political figures. Arocha urges the United States to adopt a comprehensive approach against the gang, recommending collaboration with Latin American countries that have direct experience with Tren de Aragua to develop a more complete understanding of the organization and its potential ties to state actors. As the debate continues, the fundamental question remains whether the gang operates independently or as an extension of Venezuelan state policy.

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