Ali flags notorious Venezuelan gang in Guyana, raises spectre of violent instability

Last Updated on Thursday, 12 November 2026, 15:45 by Written By Denis Chabrol

Two days after an attempt was made to blow up the electricity sub-station at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara, President Irfaan Ali on Thursday said there were top members of the feared Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua, in Guyana.

In a brief statement on the security situation in Guyana, he said there was “intelligence concerning the possible movement of senior members of the terrorist-designated criminal organisation, Tren de Aragua.”  Guyana, under the umbrella of the United States (U.S.)-led Shield of the Americas, in September 2026 agreed to impose a range of sanctions on Tren de Aragua and 23 other narco-terrorist groups operating in several countries of the Americas.

“Guyana will not be allowed to become a haven for organized criminal networks, nor will violence, intimidation, or sabotage be permitted to undermine our national security economic development or the safety of our citizens,” he said.

Dr Ali’s statement was issued hours after a magistrate ordered a Venezuelan man and several co-accused persons to stand a High Court trial for terrorism connected to the bombing of a gas station in Georgetown in October 2025 that killed a child. Prior to that explosion, simultaneous explosions had rocked a police outpost and a nearby state-owned Guyana Power and Light (GPL) installation in May, 2025.  A number of Spanish-speaking men was identified but not captured.

The Guyanese leader also on Thursday said government had received intelligence that plans might be underway to foment unrest. “Intelligence further indicates the possible existence of a centrally coordinated conspiracy intended to harm or intimidate individuals, destroy or damage public and private property, disrupt essential services and economic activity, and create disorder and undermine national security.,” he said. Dr Ali sad those matters were under active investigation, including efforts to establish the identities, roles, and involvement of those responsible for planning, directing, financing, or executing any criminal act.

He said the probe was not only aimed at determining the identities of the individuals captured on CCTV, but also whether the attack was planned or coordinated with other persons, the existence and purpose of the reported meeting, whether additional facilities or individuals were identified as potential potential targets, the involvement of any organizers, financiers, or intellectual authors.”

He said his administration had taken serious note of reckless and incendiary statements circulating on social media, including statements relating to ongoing legal proceedings. “These statements contain misleading information and inflammatory allegations that risk encouraging unlawful conduct and threatening public order,” he said.

Dr Ali did not name any party in the legal proceedings. But there are several court matters involving Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed who two US Congress members had linked to now ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Mr Mohamed is facing gun and ammunition possession and attempting to obstruct the course of justice charges; the latter related to the US extradition request for him and his father to face trial for alleged money laundering and other financial crimes. The younger Mohamed is on remand for a cybercrime charge related to his access to national security data – video from police force surveillance cameras- about a shooting incident near the police intelligence chief’s residence.

The President said the Guyana government had received information from a meeting that a plan was being hatched to launch an attack on “critical infrastructure”, resulting in the perpetrators being recorded from cameras lobbing the Molotov cocktails (channa bombs), apparently targeting an electrical transformer before fleeing. “I want to make it clear that provisions were made based on intelligence gathered from an organized meeting by persons who attended that meeting on these possible activities, and that allowed us to be proactive in our security posture,” he said. 

Dr Ali said government was working closely with international partners and national intelligence agencies. He said authorities had obtained credible intelligence suggesting links between certain statements and planned criminal activities targeting individuals, public and private property.

He warned that government would respond firmly to any effort to jeopardise the safety and security of the nation. He made it clear that all perpetrators, including intellectual authors, would be pursued relentlessly with the full force of the law. He indicated that steps were  being taken by security agencies to review the threat to critical infrastructure and take appropriate preventative measures. “I wish to assure the public that the government, the joint services, and our intelligence and security agency, in collaboration with our partners, remain vigilant and are taking coordinated action to address these threats,” he said. 

He called on Guyanese to remain responsible, vigilant, peaceful, patriotic, and nationalistic at all times, and to remember law enforcement agencies are their partners.