Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (C) is pictured this month in Caracas, Venezuela. The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control said Jimena Romina Araya Navarro, who goes by “Rosita” in Venezuela, was allegedly part of a network of five individuals affiliated with the entertainment industry that supposedly provided aid to TdA. U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Maduro of being a drug trafficker and a leader of the Cartel de los Soles, which also is designated a foreign terrorist group along with Tren de Aragua. Photo by Venezuelan President Office | License Photo
The federal government on Wednesday issued a series of sanctions targeted at key alleged members of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, which is designated a foreign terrorist organization.
The sanctions include one against well-known Venezuelan entertainer Rosita, too.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control in the U.S. Department of the Treasury said Jimena Romina Araya Navarro, who goes by “Rosita” in Venezuela, allegedly was part of a network of five individuals affiliated with the entertainment industry that supposedly provided aid to TdA.
According to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the Tren de Aragua network’s narcotrafficking and human smuggling operations have “long posed a grave threat” to the United States.
In addition, the Treasury applied its foreign sanctions to alleged gang co-conspirators Kenffersso Jhosue Sevilla Arteaga, Richard Jose Espinal Quintero, Noe Manases Aponte Cordova, Asdrubal Rafael Escobar Cabrera and Cheison Royer Guerrero Palma.
U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Venezuela’s strongman President Nicolas Maduro of being a drug trafficker and a leader of the Cartel de los Soles, which also is designated a foreign terrorist group along with Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Rosita, a 42-year-old DJ, actress and model with millions of social media followers, was believed to be romantically linked to TdA chief Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, nicknamed “Nino Guerrero,” authorities said.
It’s alleged that she reportedly helped TdA “Nino Guerrero” escape from Venezuela’s Tocoron prison, along with others, in Venezuela in 2012.
According to Treasury officials, Rosita performs in various nightclubs as a DJ throughout Colombia, specifically at the Maiquetia VIP Bar Restaurant owned by her former bodyguard and manager, Eryk Manuel Landaeta.
It’s alleged a portion of Rosita’s generated revenue from events and performances was remitted to TdA leadership. She’s also listed as shareholder and president of Venezuela-based Global Import Solutions S.A.
The White House has raised tensions in Central and South America.
The U.S. military has added more than a dozen warships and more than 15,000 troops in the region in the Pentagon’s so-called “Operation Southern Spear.”
The administration also has attacked alleged drug boats in the Pacific and Caribbean, killing dozens of people.
Last week, Maduro said Venezuela was “at peace” and “will remain at peace.”
“And in the United States, whoever wants to talk with Venezuela will talk face-to-face, without any problem,” he added.
On Wednesday, Bessent said in a statement the Trump administration will “continue to use every tool to cut off these terrorists from the U.S. and global financial system and keep American citizens safe.”
This week in Washington
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks during a press conference after the weekly Senate GOP caucus luncheon at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
