Alleged Tren de Aragua leader El Turko arrested in LA on murder and kidnapping charges

The alleged leader of a deadly Venezuelan criminal organization known as “El Turko” was taken off the streets in Los Angeles, at the behest of the Chilean government.Rafael Enrique Gamez Salas, 40, who is believed to be the ringleader of “Los Piratas,” the Chilean cell of the Venezuelan criminal enterprise known as Tren de Aragua (TdA), was arrested on Wednesday.The US Department of Justice announced the arrest in a press release on Friday, revealing that he will be extradited to Chile where he will be prosecuted on seven criminal charges.Salas will be charged with one count of criminal association, two counts of extortion, two counts of unjustified firearm discharge, one count of kidnapping resulting in homicide and one count of kidnapping for extortion, charges which span multiple crimes and victims.He has been accused of directing multiple kidnappings and extortions for TdA, one of which was the February 2024 kidnapping and murder of a Venezuelan military Lieutenant in Santiago, Chile.Salas is accused of directing and planning the kidnapping, where members of Los Piratas impersonated Chilean police officers and forcibly removed the Lieutenant from his apartment.The Lieutenant’s body was discovered a week later, when a tip ultimately revealed that he was buried in concrete and found covered in lime.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

Please provide a valid email.By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Never miss a story An intercepted conversation with Salas revealed he had been tasked “from above” to carry out the kidnapping and murder.The Chilean government also alleges that Salas played a role in an April 2024 confrontation that lead to the killing of a Chilean police officer, plus kidnappings in February and June 2024.Salas has previously been convicted in the United States for human smuggling and illegal entry after depo...