Federal authorities sanctioned six leaders and associates of Tren de Aragua on Thursday, the most recent step in the USA’ ongoing effort to focus on members of the Venezuelan gang.
The Treasury Division introduced sanctions in opposition to Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the top of the gang generally known as “Niño Guerrero,” in addition to 5 others related to Tren de Aragua, whom the U.S. company described as “key” members.
The Treasury Division says Guerrero has been concerned in legal exercise for greater than 20 years “and has expanded Tren de Aragua from a jail gang concerned in extortion and bribery to a company with rising affect all through the Western Hemisphere.” The U.S. State Division has provided as much as $5 million as a reward for data that results in his arrest or conviction.
The opposite 5 individuals dealing with sanctions are:
- Yohan Jose Romero, often known as “Johan Petrica,” who the Treasury Division says leads the group’s unlawful mining initiatives and supplies Tren de Aragua with military-grade weapons. The State Division has provided as a lot as $4 million for data resulting in his conviction or arrest.
- Josue Angel Santana Pena, or “Santanita,” who’s accused of serving to Guerrero direct the gang from jail.
- Wilmer Jose Perez Castillo, often known as “Wilmer Guayabal,” an alleged lieutenant of Guerrero who’s accused within the deaths of navy and intelligence officers.
- Felix Anner Castillo Rondon, “Pure Arnel,” who allegedly leads one other sector referred to as “Los Gallegos,” which has been accused in homicides, human trafficking, sexually exploitation and trafficking narcotics in Chile, in accordance with Treasury officers.
- Wendy Marbelys Rios Gomez, the spouse of Guerrero, who the Treasury alleges “is linked to legal actions equivalent to cash laundering, terrorism, and terrorist financing and is believed to have enriched herself by way of income maintained in connection to legal actions of Tren de Aragua.”
The sanctions have been issued issued by way of the Treasury’s Workplace of International Belongings Management. They purpose to dam all transactions between sanctioned people and anybody contained in the U.S., in addition to any properties or entities owned to any diploma by the people. Violations might warrant civil or legal penalties on People and non-U.S. residents, Treasury officers stated.
“At the moment’s motion highlights the vital function of leaders like Niño Guerrero and his lieutenants in Tren de Aragua’s efforts to extend its destabilizing affect all through the area,” stated Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in an announcement. “The Trump Administration is not going to permit Tren de Aragua to proceed to terrorize our communities and hurt harmless People. Consistent with President Trump’s mandate to Make America Secure Once more, Treasury stays devoted to dismantling Tren de Aragua and disrupting the group’s marketing campaign of violence.”
Initially shaped as a jail gang, Tren de Aragua expanded throughout Guerrero’s prolonged incarceration at Venezuela’s Tocorón Jail, which he finally managed alongside a sequence of gold mines and border crossings between that nation and neighboring Colombia, in accordance with U.S. authorities.
Upon retaking workplace in January, Mr. Trump labeled Tren de Aragua a international terrorist group, alongside different gangs and cartels.
Members of Tren de Aragua are tied to a protracted checklist of violent crimes, together with homicide, human trafficking, rape, kidnapping, bribery and racketeering.
Final month, the Venezuelan prosecutor’s workplace stated it launched an investigation into the livestreamed homicide of a well-liked TikTok consumer who had denounced the gang and allegedly corrupt police officers on social media.
The Venezuelan authorities has maintained that the gang has already been dismantled, and denies that it exists.
