A former high-ranking Venezuelan military official has issued a stark warning about the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang, alleging its use by the Venezuelan government to incite violence and disruption across the United States.

TdA, meaning "Train from Aragua," originated in a Venezuelan prison about a decade ago and has since expanded its reach to over 30 major U.S. cities. This criminal organization is described as a substantial threat with terrorist capabilities.

José Gustavo Arocha, a former lieutenant colonel in the Venezuelan army, revealed to Fox News Digital his belief that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is the driving force behind TdA's rapid growth, both in Latin America and now within the United States. Arocha, who sought refuge in the U.S. in 2015 after eight months of imprisonment under the Maduro regime, contends that Maduro's grip on power, solidified by a contested election this year, has exacerbated the situation.

Arocha characterizes TdA as a state-sponsored entity controlled by the Maduro regime, using it for leverage and blackmail. He alleges that the Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM), Venezuela's counterintelligence agency, utilizes TdA as a tool for asymmetrical warfare, providing a layer of plausible deniability.

TdA's presence in the U.S. became widely known after a violent takeover of an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado. Since then, the gang has been linked to numerous violent crimes, including the murder of nursing student Laken Riley in Georgia. Arocha asserts that TdA is not merely a gang but a group trained and empowered by the Venezuelan government and DGCIM to further a specific agenda and criminal ideology.

According to Arocha, the Venezuelan government has exploited the migrant crisis under the Biden administration as an opportunity to establish a foothold in the U.S. He argues that the administration's temporary lifting of oil sanctions against Maduro has worsened the situation. He describes the dispersal of Venezuelan migrants across the U.S. as akin to a spreading virus.

Looking ahead, Arocha stresses the urgent need for the incoming Trump administration to prioritize dismantling TdA. While border security is crucial, he emphasizes that the root of the problem lies with the Maduro regime and its alleged use of TdA as an asymmetrical warfare tool. He argues that containing Maduro and cutting off his access to resources is essential to effectively combatting TdA's presence in the United States.