Venezuelan criminal organization has ties to Iceland
Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir, Commissioner of the National Police. mbl.is/Karítas
The notorious Venezuelan criminal organization El Tren Aragua has established “connections to Iceland,” according to a recent report by the news commentary program Þetta helst , on RÚV , the National Broadcasting Corporation.
As part of the coverage, Þetta helst interviewed Venezuelan asylum seekers now living in Iceland who have fled the grip of the criminal group.
In a statement from the Office of the National Commissioner of Police, authorities confirmed the organization’s ties to Iceland. However, details regarding the nature of these connections have not been disclosed.
Supporters of venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro hold a painting of late President Hugo Chavez during a rally in Caracas on March 18, 2025. Hundreds of people marched in Caracas to demand the release and repatriation of 238 Venezuelans sent by US President Donald Trump to a prison in El Salvador, accused of links to the El Tren de Aragua criminal gang. Juan Barreto/AFP
U.S. crackdown on El Tren Aragua
El Tren Aragua has been in the global spotlight following recent actions by U.S. authorities. Last week, the United States deported 238 members of the organization to El Salvador, where they will remain imprisoned under an agreement in which the U.S. is paying El Salvador to detain them.
Deportation based on 200-year-old martial law
The move followed a presidential decree issued over a week ago by U.S. President Donald Trump, invoking the War Powers Act of 1798. This rarely used law permits the U.S. government to arrest and deport individuals from an enemy nation during wartime—a measure previously enacted during World Wars I and II.
Shortly after the executive order was announced, Federal Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington, D.C., challenged the decision, stating his intention to file a temporary injunction to block the deportations. However, the U.S. Department of Justice swiftlyappealed, and the deportations proceeded as planned.
The case has sparked significant legal and political debate, raising questions about the use of centuries-old legislation to address modern criminal threats.
