LatinNews Daily - 28 July 2025

Venezuela: On 17 July the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) imposed sanctions on Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as ‘Niño Guerrero’ – the head of Venezuelan transnational criminal organisation Tren de Aragua (TdA), along with five other TdA leaders. These are Yohan José Romero, alias ‘Johan Petrica’, a close lieutenant of Niño Guerrero; Josué Ángel Santana Peña, alias ‘Santanita’, a key member of the group since its origin as a prison gang in Venezuela; Wilmer José Pérez Castillo, alias ‘Wilmer Guayabal’, another of Niño Guerrero lieutenants; Wendy Marbelys Ríos Gómez, Niño Guerrero’s wife; and Félix Anner Castillo Rondón, alias ‘Pure Arnel’, who leads a cell in Chile known as Los Gallegos. In February the US Department of State designated TdA as a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO). According to an Ofac statement, Niño Guerrero transformed the group from a prison gang in Venezuela into a powerful transnational organisation that poses a serious threat to public safety across the Western Hemisphere. TdA is allegedly involved in “the illicit drug trade, human smuggling and trafficking, extortion, sexual exploitation of women and children, and money laundering, among other criminal activities”, according to the Ofac press release. The same statement highlights US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent as saying that “today’s action highlights the critical role of leaders like Niño Guerrero and his lieutenants in Tren de Aragua’s efforts to increase its destabilizing influence throughout the region”. He also affirmed that “in line with President [Donald] Trump’s mandate to Make America Safe Again, [the] Treasury remains dedicated to dismantling Tren de Aragua and disrupting the group’s campaign of violence”. The sanctions freeze all property and assets belonging to the individuals within the US and prohibits US citizens and entities from engaging in any transactions with them.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 996 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

• Subscribe
• Sign up for a one-time, 14-day trial