Geopolitics/News
US Sanctions Tren de Aragua Financial Network for ATM Jackpotting
The Treasury Department designated ten individuals and entities tied to the Venezuelan gang for stealing over $40 million from US ATMs.
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned a financial network linked to the Tren de Aragua gang on September 30 for orchestrating malware attacks on automated teller machines across the United States.
The scheme, known as jackpotting, allowed remote manipulation of ATMs to dispense cash without authorization. Treasury reports attribute the operation to Anibal Alexander Canelon Aguirre, identified as the leader and placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list.
According to the Treasury announcement, the network caused $40.73 million in losses through more than 1,500 attacks recorded through August 2025. A second individual, Juan Gabriel Rivas Núñez, was also designated for his role in the operation.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the United States will not allow the gang to exploit the financial system. The Department of Justice has filed charges against 98 people connected to the broader criminal activity since October 2025.
