U.S. Authorities Arrest Venezuelan Gang Leader Rafael Enrique Gamez Salas in California Wanted by Chile for Murder and Kidnapping

Rafael Enrique Gamez Salas, a 40-year-old Venezuelan national, has been arrested in the United States at Chile’s request for his alleged leadership of “Los Piratas,” the Chilean branch of the notorious Venezuelan transnational criminal group Tren de Aragua (TdA).

He faces multiple serious charges in Chile, including criminal association, extortion, kidnapping, and homicide.

Gamez Salas, who also goes by the names “Adrian Rafael Gamez Finol” and “Turko,” was apprehended Wednesday by U.S. authorities.

Chile alleges that he orchestrated a series of kidnappings and extortion schemes, one of which ended in the brutal murder of a former Venezuelan military officer.

Alleged Crimes and Coordinated Violence

Chilean authorities accuse Gamez Salas of directing Los Piratas to commit violent acts, including murders, kidnappings, and armed assaults.

The most high-profile case occurred in February 2024 in Santiago, where members of Los Piratas reportedly forced their way into a former Venezuelan lieutenant’s apartment.

Using a car with a blue light to mimic police, they abducted the victim, who was later found dead in a suitcase buried under concrete.

Autopsy results indicated asphyxiation, torture marks, and partial dismemberment.

Further investigations revealed that these operations were allegedly orchestrated under orders from higher-ranking members of TdA outside Chile.

Intercepted communications reportedly show Gamez Salas admitting that the kidnapping was assigned to him “from above.”

In addition to the February 2024 murder, Chilean authorities have implicated Gamez Salas in an April 2024 confrontation resulting in a Chilean police officer’s death, other kidnappings for extortion in February and June 2024, and an attempted kidnapping in March 2024.

U.S. Criminal History and Extradition Proceedings

Gamez Salas has a criminal record in the United States.

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He was previously deported to Venezuela in 2023 after illegally entering the U.S. He later reentered the country and was convicted of human smuggling in Texas in February 2025.

He pled guilty to illegally reentering the U.S. in April 2025 and was serving time in California when authorities executed the provisional arrest warrant for extradition to Chile.

The U.S. Marshals Service transferred him from federal prison to their custody in the Central District of California, where he appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles F. Eick.

His extradition case is being handled by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs in coordination with the Central District of California.

Statements from U.S. Officials

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized the threat Gamez Salas poses, calling him an “alleged leader of the foreign terrorist organization TdA” and criticizing his illegal reentry into the U.S. under the Biden administration.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva highlighted the ongoing international cooperation aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations and ensuring dangerous criminals are held accountable.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli reinforced that the U.S. will not serve as a safe haven for foreign criminal leaders and reiterated collaboration with international law enforcement to secure justice in Chile.

Impact and Consequences

Gamez Salas’ arrest demonstrates a robust partnership between the United States and Chile in addressing transnational organized crime.

By targeting leaders of Tren de Aragua, authorities aim to weaken the organization’s operations in both countries and send a strong message to other criminal networks operating internationally.

His extradition could pave the way for additional arrests of TdA affiliates and further international cooperation against similar criminal groups, reducing threats to public safety in the Americas.

What’s Next?

Gamez Salas’ extradition to Chile is the next legal step.

Chilean prosecutors will pursue trials on charges including criminal association, extortion, multiple kidnappings, and homicide.

U.S. authorities will continue to coordinate with Chile to ensure the extradition process is executed according to legal standards.

Additionally, the Justice Department remains vigilant for other TdA members in the U.S., building on the previous 2025 extradition of Edgar Javier Benitez Rubio, another alleged member linked to the February 2024 murder.

Summary

Rafael Enrique Gamez Salas, a Venezuelan national and alleged Tren de Aragua leader, was arrested in the U.S. at Chile’s request.

He faces charges related to kidnappings, extortion, and a high-profile murder in Santiago.

With prior U.S. convictions for human smuggling and illegal reentry, Gamez Salas’ case underscores the international effort to combat transnational criminal organizations.

His extradition to Chile is pending.

Bulleted Takeaways

• Rafael Enrique Gamez Salas, 40, allegedly led Chilean TdA cell Los Piratas.
• Charges in Chile: criminal association, extortion, kidnapping, homicide.
• Notorious February 2024 Santiago murder involved abduction, torture, and concealment under concrete.
• U.S. criminal history: human smuggling and illegal reentry convictions.
• Arrest shows strong U.S.-Chile cooperation against transnational crime.
• Extradition pending; prior TdA member extradited in 2025.