Overview

• Colombian National Police detained José Antonio Márquez Morales on Oct. 5 in Valledupar, identifying the ex‑Venezuelan police officer as a fugitive on terrorism, aggravated homicide, firearms trafficking and criminal association charges.
• Colombia’s prosecutor’s office says Márquez is a leader of the Los Caracas armed cell and the principal logistics and finance coordinator for Tren de Aragua along the Colombia–Venezuela border.
• The arrest was executed by Colombian, U.S. and U.K. units acting on an Interpol Red Notice that sought his detention pending extradition.
• The detention comes as the United States escalates counternarcotics operations in the Caribbean, including reported lethal strikes on suspected smuggling boats and a confidential notice to Congress framing the fight as an armed conflict with cartels.
• Russia has declared support for Venezuela and condemned the boat attacks, while analysts quoted in Spanish media say Washington aims to pressure the Venezuelan military and could consider drone strikes inside the country.