<p>Venezuelan Police found Bitcoin mining machines, guns with bucketloads of bullets, rocket launchers and grenades in a prison overrun by a powerful gang which they freed in an operation that reportedly involved 11,000 soldiers and cops.</p>

<p>On Thursday (Sept 21), the security personnel moved in, backed up by tanks and armoured vehicles, to free the Tocoron prison in the north-central state of Aragua, which served as the headquarters for the Tren de Aragua gang.</p>

<p>Tocoron prison was a haven for these gang members who had built hotel-like amenities like a pool, restaurant and a mini zoo for themselves.</p>

<p>The zoo had tigers, lions, crocodiles and pumas that were used to challenge prisoners and the authority of government officials.</p>

<p>The prison even had a nightclub named Tokio (Spanish for the Japanese city) where the criminals used to regularly party, and a restaurant were prisoners dined with their visitors.</p>

<h2><strong>Hotel-like amenities&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>There was also a baseball field, a room where gambling activities took place, and another where inmates mined cryptocurrency illegally.</p>

<p>The criminal group also set up small shacks where some members lived with their families and had access to satellite television and the internet.</p>

<p>During the raid, a major died after hitting his head on the door of an armoured car.</p>

<h2><strong>Ship with Ukraine grain back in Turkey under "humanitarian corridor"</strong></h2>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://wionews.com/videos/ship-with-ukraine-grain-back-in-turkey-under-humanitarian-corridor-638451/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>The fact that members of Venezuela's most feared criminal gang had virtual control over the prison has given birth to speculations that the jail authorities may have been in cahoots with the Tren de Aragua.</p>

<p>Speaking to reporters, Interior and Justice Minister Remigio Ceballos said that four prison guards were arrested as suspected accomplices of gang members who had lived it up behind bars.</p>

<h2><strong>Some gang members escaped&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>"There will be no impunity. We will go against all the criminals and accomplices," Ceballos said, according to AFP.</p>

<p>He hailed a "successful operation that allowed us to strike a blow against criminal groups."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-find-new-virus-at-depths-of-pacific-ocean-638411">Scientists find new virus at depths of Pacific Ocean</a></p>

<p>After taking control of the prison, the government began evacuating its 1,600 inmates to other locations.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-meets-biden-get-aid-package-but-warns-kyiv-could-lose-if-funding-is-cut-638386">Zelensky meets Biden, warns Kyiv could lose if funding is cut</a></p>

<p>President Nicolás Maduro congratulated the armed forces for getting rid of the criminals.</p>

<p>“I congratulate the more than 11,000 members of the FANB (National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela) and police forces for the successful intervention of the Tocorón Penitentiary Center,” Maduro wrote on X, moments after the raid.</p>

<p>“We are heading towards a Venezuela free of criminal gangs!”</p>

<p>During the operation, around 60 Tren de Aragua members were captured and four prison officials arrested for allegedly allowing the smuggling of weapons, Ceballos said on Thursday.</p>

<p>Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional reported that between 400 to 500 prisoners were still missing. Union Radio reported that the fugitives may be hiding out in the mountain area near El Junquito.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Venezuelan Police found Bitcoin mining machines, guns with bucketloads of bullets, rocket launchers and grenades in a prison overrun by a powerful gang which they freed in an operation that reportedly involved 11,000 soldiers and cops.

Venezuelan Police found Bitcoin mining machines, guns with bucketloads of bullets, rocket launchers and grenades in a prison overrun by a powerful gang which they freed in an operation that reportedly involved 11,000 soldiers and cops. On Thursday (Sept 21), the security personnel moved in, backed up by tanks and armoured vehicles, to free the Tocoron prison in the north-central state of Aragua, which served as the headquarters for the Tren de Aragua gang. Tocoron prison was a haven for these gang members who had built hotel-like amenities like a pool, restaurant and a mini zoo for themselves. The zoo had tigers, lions, crocodiles and pumas that were used to challenge prisoners and the authority of government officials. The prison even had a nightclub named Tokio (Spanish for the Japanese city) where the criminals used to regularly party, and a restaurant were prisoners dined with their visitors. Hotel-like amenities There was also a baseball field, a room where gambling activities took place, and another where inmates mined cryptocurrency illegally. The criminal group also set up small shacks where some members lived with their families and had access to satellite television and the internet. During the raid, a major died after hitting his head on the door of an armoured car. Ship with Ukraine grain back in Turkey under "humanitarian corridor" The fact that members of Venezuela's most feared criminal gang had virtual control over the prison has given birth to speculations that the jail authorities may have been in cahoots with the Tren de Aragua. Speaking to reporters, Interior and Justice Minister Remigio Ceballos said that four prison guards were arrested as suspected accomplices of gang members who had lived it up behind bars. Some gang members escaped "There will be no impunity. We will go against all the criminals and accomplices," Ceballos said, according to AFP. He hailed a "successful operation that allowed us to strike a blow against criminal groups." Also read | Scientists find new virus at depths of Pacific Ocean After taking control of the prison, the government began evacuating its 1,600 inmates to other locations. Also read | Zelensky meets Biden, warns Kyiv could lose if funding is cut President Nicolás Maduro congratulated the armed forces for getting rid of the criminals. “I congratulate the more than 11,000 members of the FANB (National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela) and police forces for the successful intervention of the Tocorón Penitentiary Center,” Maduro wrote on X, moments after the raid. “We are heading towards a Venezuela free of criminal gangs!” During the operation, around 60 Tren de Aragua members were captured and four prison officials arrested for allegedly allowing the smuggling of weapons, Ceballos said on Thursday. Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional reported that between 400 to 500 prisoners were still missing. Union Radio reported that the fugitives may be hiding out in the mountain area near El Junquito. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Venezuela Police find crypto mining machines, guns, rocket launcher in jail turned into gang HQ

<p>Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has visited Brazil for the first time since he was prohibited from entering in 2019 by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.&nbsp;Maduro was warmly welcomed by the new president, fellow leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of a Latin American leaders' conference in Brasilia.</p>

<p>"What's important about Maduro coming here is that it's the beginning of Maduro's return," Lula said, as reported by the BBC.</p>

<p>A number of nations have questioned&nbsp;Maduro's legitimacy, labelling him a dictator.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lula stated in a greeting to his visitor in the Brazilian capital on Monday (May 29) that his own comeback had arrived five months earlier, referring to the period when he reclaimed power after defeating Bolsonaro in close presidential elections.</p>

<p>Maduro stated that Venezuela is open to Brazilian investment and that the two nations "must be united, from now on and always."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Maduro last visited Brazil in 2015. Jair Bolsonaro was primarily opposed to Venezuela's socialist president and was unlikely to accept an invitation.</p>

<p>However, Lula previously had cordial relations with both Nicolás Maduro and his political mentor, the late Hugo Chávez.</p>

<p>Lula slammed the United States' "extremely exaggerated" sanctions against Venezuela, saying it was illogical that the US would "impose 900 sanctions because they don't get on."&nbsp;</p>

<p>He urged&nbsp;his South American ally to develop a new "narrative" about authoritarianism, claiming that an unfair and "constructed" one had been formed around Venezuela's status of democracy.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/missing-brazilian-actors-body-found-6-feet-underground-in-buried-wooden-trunk-597095">Missing Brazilian actor’s body found buried 6 feet underground in wooden trunk</a></p>

<h2><strong>What does the visit mean for Maduro?</strong></h2>

<p>Maduro used his visit to reiterate his appeal for the US sanctions to be repealed, saying he would rally South American states to reject them as a regional bloc.</p>

<p>Several South American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, and Colombia, as well as Brazil, are presently headed by left-wing politicians and may offer their support to such a viewpoint, reported The BBC.</p>

<p>However, it is questionable if such a demand would have any actual impact on the Biden administration's actions towards Venezuela.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Amazon city of Belem set to host COP30 in 2025, says Brazil's Lula</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/amazon-city-of-belem-set-to-host-cop30-in-2025-says-brazils-lula-597133/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2><strong>Maduro now&nbsp;increasingly authoritarian?</strong></h2>

<p>Maduro has been more dictatorial since his election in 2013.</p>

<p>His attack on opposition activists eventually led to the US putting sanctions on his administration and recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as short-term president in 2019 following a contentious election.</p>

<p>Last December, Venezuela's opposition National Assembly decided to dissolve its parallel government and depose Guaidó.</p>

<p>Many Western countries, including the United States, acknowledged him, but he failed to depose the left-wing president.</p>

<p>The vote demonstrated how many opposition lawmakers in Venezuela had lost trust in Guaidó.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE:</strong></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></p>


Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has visited Brazil for the first time since he was prohibited from entering in 2019 by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has visited Brazil for the first time since he was prohibited from entering in 2019 by former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Maduro was warmly welcomed by the new president, fellow leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of a Latin American leaders' conference in Brasilia. "What's important about Maduro coming here is that it's the beginning of Maduro's return," Lula said, as reported by the BBC. A number of nations have questioned Maduro's legitimacy, labelling him a dictator. Lula stated in a greeting to his visitor in the Brazilian capital on Monday (May 29) that his own comeback had arrived five months earlier, referring to the period when he reclaimed power after defeating Bolsonaro in close presidential elections. Maduro stated that Venezuela is open to Brazilian investment and that the two nations "must be united, from now on and always." Maduro last visited Brazil in 2015. Jair Bolsonaro was primarily opposed to Venezuela's socialist president and was unlikely to accept an invitation. However, Lula previously had cordial relations with both Nicolás Maduro and his political mentor, the late Hugo Chávez. Lula slammed the United States' "extremely exaggerated" sanctions against Venezuela, saying it was illogical that the US would "impose 900 sanctions because they don't get on." He urged his South American ally to develop a new "narrative" about authoritarianism, claiming that an unfair and "constructed" one had been formed around Venezuela's status of democracy. ALSO READ | Missing Brazilian actor’s body found buried 6 feet underground in wooden trunk What does the visit mean for Maduro? Maduro used his visit to reiterate his appeal for the US sanctions to be repealed, saying he would rally South American states to reject them as a regional bloc. Several South American countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, and Colombia, as well as Brazil, are presently headed by left-wing politicians and may offer their support to such a viewpoint, reported The BBC. However, it is questionable if such a demand would have any actual impact on the Biden administration's actions towards Venezuela. ALSO WATCH | Amazon city of Belem set to host COP30 in 2025, says Brazil's Lula Maduro now increasingly authoritarian? Maduro has been more dictatorial since his election in 2013. His attack on opposition activists eventually led to the US putting sanctions on his administration and recognised opposition leader Juan Guaidó as short-term president in 2019 following a contentious election. Last December, Venezuela's opposition National Assembly decided to dissolve its parallel government and depose Guaidó. Many Western countries, including the United States, acknowledged him, but he failed to depose the left-wing president. The vote demonstrated how many opposition lawmakers in Venezuela had lost trust in Guaidó. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Lula welcomes back banned leader Maduro, both hit out at US sanctions against Venezuela

A supermarket filled with Iranian goods opened in Caracas, Venezuela. The supermarket is filled with more Persian labels than Spanish ones, it's the latest show of support from its Middle-Eastern ally after US sanctions.

Iran opens supermarket in Venezuela | US sanctions | Wion

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