The United States government announced sanctions this Wednesday against a leader of the Aragua Train and a dozen people involved in an ATM robbery ring.
The North American State Department included Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre, alias Prometheus or the Engineer, on its sanctions list, identified as the person allegedly responsible for coordinating an operation that, according to Washington, allowed millions of dollars to be stolen from US financial institutions.
The US government described the operation as a “scheme that stole millions of dollars from US financial institutions.”
“One of the 10 most wanted fugitives by the FBI, Aníbal Alexander Canelón Aguirre, also known as Prometheus, orchestrated the scheme through which cash is stolen from automated teller machines (ATM) located in the United States using malicious software,” the text indicates.
The FBI is looking for Canelón Aguirre after millionaire ATM fraud
Canelón Aguirre is among the 10 most wanted fugitives by the FBI and remains a fugitive, while investigations into the network have led to the presentation of charges against dozens of people in different parts of the country.
The case began to emerge at the beginning of 2024, when the authorities detected that members of the Aragu TrainThey had managed to introduce malicious programs into ATMs to order the delivery of cash. The operation, according to information released by Washington, covered 26 states.
One of the episodes investigated occurred in Nebraska. During a weekend in August 2025, approximately $300,000 was stolen, according to US media that cited documents from the Department of Justice.
The investigation led months later to the arrest of two alleged members of the organization and subsequently to the filing of charges against dozens of individuals in the 26 states where the activity was detected.
New sanctions hit accomplices of the Aragua Train in Mexico
The measures announced this Wednesday also affect a dozen people and entities that the United States links to the operation. Among those sanctioned are citizens and two companies based in Mexico.
As consequence of the sanctionsUS citizens and entities are prohibited from maintaining financial or economic relationships with the people and companies included in the measure.
“The United States is coming for you and your assets, no matter where you hide,” the statement said.
Simultaneously with the sanctions related to the ATM network, the State Department identified Juan Gabriel Rivas Núñez, known as Juancho, as another member of the Aragua Train subject to measures. Washington links him to illegal gold extraction and drug trafficking activities in countries in the region.
The new sanctions expand the actions of the United States against members and alleged collaborators of the Tren de Aragua and occur while US authorities maintain investigations into activities attributed to the organization inside and outside the country.
