Thousands of police and soldiers storm a prison in Venezuela. The US Federal Reserve leaves the main interest rate at 5.5 percent, but does not rule out increases

Security forces have launched a major operation against a criminal syndicate in a prison in Venezuela. 11,000 soldiers and police surrounded Tocorón prison, about 90 miles southwest of the capital Caracas, and eventually stormed the prison.

“The prison is now back under full state control after we destroyed the center of the conspiracy,” Interior Minister Remigio Ceballos said on Thursday evening (local time). Numerous weapons and ammunition were seized in the prison.

Tocorón prison, with approximately 7,000 prisoners, is considered the headquarters of the Tren de Aragua crime syndicate. Venezuela’s most powerful gang is involved in drug smuggling, protection fraud, illegal mining and migrant smuggling. Recently, the Tren de Aragua has expanded its sphere of influence to include Colombia, Peru and Chile.

The Tocorón prison is said to be de facto run by the gang’s boss, Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero”. According to media reports, security forces discovered a tunnel system, restaurants, brothels, a nightclub, storage areas and even a small zoo inside the prison.

(hah/sda/dpa)