Larry Changa, leader of the Tren de Aragua, is trying to negotiate with the Colombian president to stop his extradition

"One of Latin America's most wanted criminals, who has been held in Bogota's La Picota prison since June 2024, made an unusual proposal to the Gustavo Petro government to enter the latter's total peace process. Although the government rejected it just hours later, the attempt revealed his efforts to evade an imminent extradition to Chile by presenting himself as a figure with political negotiation skills."

"Justice Minister Eduardo Montealegre was the one who rejected the initiative. We will not allow criminal groups, under the pretext of participating in peace processes, to mock international justice to seek impunity for their crimes, he said. The Tren de Aragua is no small threat: it has a confirmed presence in 11 countries from Chile and Colombia to Spain, Italy, and Portugal and is being investigated by Europol for human trafficking and money laundering in Europe."

"A judicial source close to the case explains that the arrest of Larry Changa is particularly important. This is the most representative capture we have due to his operational role in the organization and his seniority and recognition within the gang, but he is not the most criminally capable. There have been less high-profile arrests, but of more violent figures than him."

Larry Amaury Alvarez Nunez, known as Larry Changa, is a 47-year-old Venezuelan founder of the Tren de Aragua with transnational criminal operations extending to Europe. He has been detained in Bogota's La Picota prison since June 2024 and attempted to join Colombia's total peace process as a means to avoid imminent extradition to Chile, a proposal rejected by Justice Minister Eduardo Montealegre. Tren de Aragua holds confirmed presence in 11 countries and faces Europol investigations for human trafficking and money laundering. Colombian authorities captured at least 60 gang members between 2024 and 2025; nine face extradition. A judicial source describes Changa's arrest as the most representative capture due to his operational role and seniority within the gang.

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