CARACAS.- A member of the Aragua Trainone of the most feared and dangerous criminal gangs in the region, was extradited from Spain and will face justice in Venezuela. Gerso Guerrerobrother of the band leader Hector Rusthenford Guerreroknown as “Niño Guerrero,” arrived in Caracas on Thursday, according to Interior Minister Remigio Ceballos.
Guerrero was arrested in March by the Spanish National Police and was wanted in Venezuela for a series of serious crimes, including extortion, money laundering, illicit trafficking of weapons and ammunition, and terrorism. “He is at the disposal of the courts through the Public Prosecutor’s Office and duly detained,” Ceballos said.
The Tren de Aragua is known for operating out of Tocorón prison in Lara state before Venezuelan authorities dismantled the gang in an operation that spanned seven prisons. Despite these efforts, the gang still has a presence in at least eight South American countries, including Colombia, Peru and Chile.
Venezuela’s Attorney General, Towing William Saabhad previously reported that since 2019, 44 members of the Tren de Aragua have been arrested in the country and that there are 102 additional arrest warrants. In addition, Venezuelan authorities have made 53 requests to Interpol for the arrest of members of various criminal gangs, of which 32 extraditions are in process.
Criminal organization
The government of USA declared the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua a transnational criminal organization on Thursday and offered a $12 million reward for the capture of its top leaders. The decision was announced by the Treasury Department, underscoring growing concerns about the gang’s expansion beyond Venezuela’s borders.
US authorities consider the gang to be a significant threat to regional security. “They have taken advantage of the desperation of Venezuelan migrants to expand their criminal network, particularly engaging in sex trafficking and other forms of exploitation,” a Treasury Department spokesperson said.
The Treasury Department’s action includes asset freezes and financial restrictions on the gang, with the aim of weakening its operations and sending a clear message about the consequences of participating in transnational criminal activities. This action seeks not only to punish those responsible, but also to deter others from following in their footsteps.
Source: With information from AFP and AP
