By Sue-Ann Wayow

VENEZUELAN gang Tren De Aragua is officially listed as a terrorist entity in Trinidad and Tobago.

On Tuesday, the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago granted an application by the Attorney General to have Tren de Aragua designated a terrorist entity under Section 22b of the Anti-Terrorism Act, Chap. 12:07 and under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373.

The Office of Attorney General issued a press statement on Tuesday evening stating that the Order prohibits any dealings with Tren de Aragua and instructs that any property owned or controlled, directly or indirectly and derived or generated from funds or other assets owned or controlled, directly or indirectly by the listed entity be frozen.

The provision of financial and/or any other related services, property and/or support to Tren de Aragua is an offence pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism Act, Chap. 12:07.

 Tren de Aragua is an international group of foreign persons that has committed or attempted to commit and poses a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism that threaten the security of persons.

The organisation originates from Venezuela with cells in North American and Latin American countries primarily Colombia, Peru and Chile and having a presence in the United States of America, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil.

The release stated, “Due to the geographical location of Venezuela and its close proximity to Trinidad and Tobago, it was incumbent upon the government of Trinidad and Tobago to take immediate steps and requisite measures to protect the safety and security of its nationals.

“This designation is a result of the government of Trinidad and Tobago’s close collaboration with our key partner, the United States of America. It is a significant milestone which forms part of the government’s continuing efforts to strengthen national security and protect the citizenry, uphold the rule of law, and disrupt transnational organized criminals and their operations.

“The government continues to take decisive action against the threats posed by violent international cartels and transnational criminal networks operating within and beyond our borders and reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting national security.”

 As a member of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), the government continues to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards and obligations to implement promptly and without delay the targeted financial sanctions (TFS) regime to comply with the United Nations Security Council Resolutions relating to the prevention and suppression of terrorism and terrorist financing, the release stated.

In March, US President Donald Trump invocated of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 against the Tren de Aragua gang.

On Monday, attorneys sparred before a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans over the invocation, the Associated Press reported.

The law has only previously been used during World Wars I and II and the War of 1812.