Peruvian police have rescued 123 women and girls who were being sexually exploited by a powerful Venezuelan gang, the authorities confirmed on Saturday.
The rescue operation took place on Friday night in Lima, with hundreds of police officers involved in the raid. During the operation, 23 suspected gang members were arrested.
According to the police, the 123 people freed included three minors, all of whom were women and girls, a source within the force told AFP.
The individuals arrested are believed to be members of Los Hijos de Dios, a faction of Venezuela’s largest gang, Tren de Aragua. The gang has been active in Peru since 2021.
This is not the first rescue operation targeting the criminal group. In January 2024, Peruvian police rescued 40 young girls who were being sexually exploited on social media by the same gang.
The Tren de Aragua gang was formed in 2014 in Venezuela’s Aragua state and has since expanded its operations to several South American countries, including Colombia, Peru, and Chile.
US President Donald Trump targeted the gang as part of his efforts to combat violent crime and illegal immigration.
Upon taking office, Trump declared a national emergency to address the gang’s activities, which he described as a serious threat to the United States.
On Wednesday, the US announced the deportation of 10 Tren de Aragua members to the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba.
