Venezuelan criminal ‘El Turko’ arrested in LA on murder charges

The arrest of Rafael Enrique Gamez Salas, the alleged leader of the Venezuelan criminal organization “El Turko,” in Los Angeles on Wednesday has brought a significant criminal figure off the streets. Gamez Salas, believed to be the ringleader of “Los Piratas,” the Chilean cell of the Tren de Aragua (TdA) criminal enterprise, will be extradited to Chile to face seven criminal charges.

According to the US Department of Justice, Gamez Salas will be charged with criminal association, extortion, unjustified firearm discharge, kidnapping resulting in homicide, and kidnapping for extortion. These charges stem from multiple crimes and victims, including the kidnapping and murder of a Venezuelan military Lieutenant in Santiago, Chile in February 2024.

The Lieutenant was kidnapped and later found buried in concrete, covered in lime, after Gamez Salas allegedly directed the operation. Intercepted conversations revealed that he had been tasked “from above” to carry out the kidnapping and murder. The Chilean government also accuses him of involvement in a confrontation that led to the killing of a Chilean police officer in April 2024, as well as other kidnappings in February and June of the same year.

Gamez Salas, who also goes by the alias “Adrian Rafael Gamez Finol,” has a history of criminal activity and illegal entry into the United States. He was previously deported to Venezuela in 2023 for illegal entry but reentered the country illegally. In 2025, he was arrested and prosecuted for human smuggling in Texas.

After pleading guilty in April 2025 and serving a federal sentence in Central California, Gamez Salas was arrested on an extradition warrant. He appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Los Angeles before being remanded into federal custody. The US Marshal Service executed the arrest.

Authorities emphasize the importance of cooperation between the United States and international partners to combat transnational crime and hold criminals accountable. Gamez Salas’ arrest for extradition demonstrates the commitment to dismantling criminal organizations and ensuring public safety. The Justice Department and other federal agencies will continue to prioritize safety and security in dealing with dangerous criminal elements like Gamez Salas.