According to the US State Department, the man maintained and expanded his criminal network even while moving in and out of prison. His influence grew over time as he consolidated control over key illicit operations in Venezuela, including gold mines in Bolívar state, drug-trafficking routes along the Caribbean coast, and secret border crossings between Venezuela and Colombia.
The State Department described this as evidence of a deeply entrenched criminal structure that continued to operate despite his periods of incarceration. Rather than weakening the organization, imprisonment appears to have done little to curb its reach, allowing the group to preserve and extend its power across strategically important areas.
Bolívar state has long been associated with illegal mining activity, and control of gold mines in the region can provide major financial gains for armed groups and criminal syndicates. By gaining influence over these mines, the network reportedly secured a valuable source of revenue that could be used to fund other operations, sustain loyal members, and reinforce its presence in surrounding territories.
On Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, the gang also seized drug corridors, according to the State Department. These routes are important for moving narcotics out of the country and toward international markets. Control over such corridors typically gives criminal groups leverage over logistics, protection rackets, and trafficking partnerships, strengthening their overall criminal footprint.
The organization is also said to have dominated clandestine border crossings between Venezuela and Colombia. These unofficial routes are often used to move people, goods, weapons, and drugs outside formal customs and immigration controls. By controlling them, the gang reportedly increased its ability to operate across national boundaries and profit from illegal movement in both directions.
The picture presented by the State Department is one of a criminal leader whose influence was not confined by prison walls. Instead, his network reportedly adapted and continued to function through local power structures, territorial control, and cross-border illicit trade. The ability to oversee such operations while in and out of prison suggests a level of organization, coordination, and corruption that may have allowed the gang to remain resilient.
The allegations also point to the broader challenge facing authorities in the region. Gold mining, drug trafficking, and irregular border crossings are all high-value illicit activities that can intersect with weak governance, armed groups, and economic desperation. When one organization gains control over these channels, it can become increasingly difficult for law enforcement to dismantle its influence.
In this case, the State Department’s account portrays a leader who leveraged violence, control of territory, and criminal enterprise to expand his reach despite repeated imprisonment. His ability to maintain authority over mining sites, trafficking corridors, and border routes underscores the scale of the network and the complexity of the criminal environment in parts of Venezuela and along its border with Colombia.
