Federal authorities sanctioned six leaders and associates of Tren de Aragua on Thursday, the newest step in the USA’ ongoing effort to focus on members of the Venezuelan gang.
The Treasury Division introduced sanctions towards Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the pinnacle 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 prison 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 folks dealing with sanctions are:
- Yohan Jose Romero, also called “Johan Petrica,” who the Treasury Division says leads the group’s unlawful mining initiatives and gives 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, also called “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, based on Treasury officers.
- Wendy Marbelys Rios Gomez, the spouse of Guerrero, who the Treasury alleges “is linked to prison actions corresponding to cash laundering, terrorism, and terrorist financing and is believed to have enriched herself by means of earnings maintained in connection to prison actions of Tren de Aragua.”
The sanctions have been issued issued by means of the Treasury’s Workplace of Overseas Property 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 prison penalties on Individuals and non-U.S. residents, Treasury officers mentioned.
“As we speak’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,” mentioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a press release. “The Trump Administration won’t enable Tren de Aragua to proceed to terrorize our communities and hurt harmless Individuals. In keeping 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 ultimately managed alongside a sequence of gold mines and border crossings between that nation and neighboring Colombia, based on U.S. authorities.
Upon retaking workplace in January, Mr. Trump labeled Tren de Aragua a overseas terrorist group, alongside different gangs and cartels.
Members of Tren de Aragua are tied to an extended listing of violent crimes, together with homicide, human trafficking, rape, kidnapping, bribery and racketeering.
Final month, the Venezuelan prosecutor’s workplace mentioned 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.
