Fatal Women of the TDA: Beauties or Monsters?
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20 Mar Fatal Women of the TDA: Beauties or Monsters?

Posted at 18:35h in Analysis by

By,

William Acosta, SME, MSI2

Jesús Daniel Romero, Senior Fellow, MSI2

Since its founding in the early 2000s in Venezuelan prisons, the Tren de Aragua (TDA) has expanded into international criminal activities, including drug trafficking, kidnappings, and human trafficking. The organization has demonstrated remarkable adaptability and growth, integrating women into its operations (Insight Crime, 2023).

Migration Crisis and Women’s Vulnerability

The economic and political crisis in Venezuela has forced millions of people to migrate in search of better opportunities (International Organization for Migration [IOM], 2023). In this context, many migrant women face vulnerability, exposed to exploitation by criminal groups such as the TDA (Human Rights Watch, 2022).

Women’s Participation in the TDA

Women in the TDA take on various roles, from being partners of leaders to actively engaging in extortion, drug trafficking, and sexual exploitation (BBC News, 2023). Some join out of economic necessity or seeking protection, while others rise within the organization, becoming perpetrators of violence themselves (Delgado, 2022).

Credit: Adobe Stock- Standard license on file.

Notable Cases

• Mary Emilia Colmenarez: Known as “Bebecita del TikTok,” she was arrested in Chile for her involvement in the sexual exploitation of women (El País, 2023).

• Yuliana García: Arrested in Colombia, she led extortion and drug trafficking operations (Semana, 2023).

• Estefanía Primera: Captured in Texas for running a sex trafficking operation (Univisión, 2023).

• Eglismar Andreina Reyes Sojo: A member of “Los Gallegos,” she was arrested in Peru for her involvement in homicides and drug trafficking (La República, 2023).

Social and Psychological Implications

Women’s participation in the TDA is a complex phenomenon. While some are coerced, others actively engage in violence and exploitation, perpetuating cycles of dehumanization in their communities (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC], 2023).

Comparison with Women in Traditional Cartels

The differences between the TDA and traditional cartels are significant:

• TDA: Violence is a constant element that women must adopt to ascend in the criminal hierarchy (Insight Crime, 2023).

• Traditional Cartels: Although women can hold leadership roles, their rise is based on trust and logistical competence rather than direct violence (Astorga, 2021).

Examples of Women in Organized Crime

• Griselda Blanco: “The Godmother of Cocaine,” a pioneer in drug trafficking in the U.S. (Salazar, 2021).

• Sandra Ávila Beltrán: “The Queen of the Pacific,” operated within the Sinaloa Cartel (Guerrero, 2020).

• Dalia López: “The Cocaine Queen” in Honduras (Contreras, 2019).

Conclusion

Women in the TDA reflect the complexity of organized crime in Latin America. Some are victims of adverse circumstances, while others actively participate in violence. The fight against the TDA requires a gender-sensitive approach that not only criminalizes their actions but also addresses the structural causes of their involvement in crime.

References

• Astorga, L. (2021). El siglo de las drogas: El narcotráfico, del Porfiriato al nuevo milenio. Debate.

• BBC News. (2023). El auge del Tren de Aragua y su expansión en América Latina.

• Contreras, R. (2019). Las mujeres del narco: El rol de las mujeres en el crimen organizado en Centroamérica. Editorial Siglo XXI.

• Delgado, J. (2022). *Crimen y género: La participación de las mujeres en el narcotráfico.

• El País. (2023). Mary Emilia Colmenarez: Influencer detenida por vínculos con el Tren de Aragua.

• Guerrero, M. (2020). Sandra Ávila Beltrán: La Reina del Pacífico y el tráfico de drogas en México. Penguin Random House.

• Human Rights Watch. (2022). Mujeres migrantes y explotación: El impacto del crimen organizado en Venezuela.

• Insight Crime. (2023). El Tren de Aragua: Orígenes, expansión y estructura del grupo criminal venezolano.

• La República. (2023). Capturan a Eglismar Andreina Reyes Sojo en Perú: Operadora del Tren de Aragua.

• Organización Internacional para las Migraciones (OIM). (2023). Crisis migratoria venezolana: Impacto y desafíos en América Latina.

• Salazar, C. (2021). Griselda Blanco: La historia de la Madrina de la Cocaína. Editorial Planeta.

• Semana. (2023). La caída de Yuliana García: Líder del Tren de Aragua en Colombia.

• United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2023). Gender and Organized Crime: Women in Criminal Networks.

• Univisión. (2023). Arrestan en Texas a Estefanía Primera por tráfico sexual y explotación de menores.

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