Venezuela sends 11,000 troops to retake prison

Venezuela sends 11,000 troops to retake prison

Around 11,000 troops have been sent to the Tocorón prison, in the north of Venezuela, to regain control after it had been overrun by a powerful criminal gang. 

Tocorón prison, one of the biggest in the country, was under the control of the Tren de Aragua mega-gang for years.

Members were able to roam freely around the prison, which had hotel-like facilities including a pool, nightclub and a mini zoo, according to local media. 

Officials said the 6,000 inmates would be transferred to other prisons. 

There were many free residents living inside the prison alongside sentenced inmates. The families of the prisoners set to be relocated are unsure of where their relatives will be sent to. 

“I am waiting to hear where they are taking my husband… I was living in there, but they kicked us out,” Gladys Hernández told AFP news agency.

In a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, the Venezuelan Interior Ministry congratulated officers for regaining the prison and dismantling “a centre of conspiracy and crime”.