The Treasury Department has hit the leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua with sanctions. Five other gang leaders and affiliated individuals were also sanctioned.
Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as “Niño Guerrero,” has been involved in criminal activities for more than two decades, the Treasury explained. Yohan Jose Romero, known as “Johan Petrica” and one of the gang’s co-founders, was also sanctioned. Other sanctioned gang members include Josue Angel Santana Pena, Wilmer Jose Perez Castillo, Wendy Marbelys Rios Gomez, and Felix Anner Castillo Rondon.
“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,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “The Trump Administration will not allow Tren de Aragua to continue to terrorize our communities and harm innocent Americans. In line with President Trump’s mandate to Make America Safe Again, Treasury remains dedicated to dismantling Tren de Aragua and disrupting the group’s campaign of violence.”
The State Department previously issued a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the leader’s arrest and/or conviction.
President Trump designated Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) in January. According to the order, the gang’s “violence and terror in the United States and internationally are extraordinarily violent, vicious, and similarly threaten the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere.” The order called for the gang’s elimination from the United States in order to protect Americans and the territorial integrity of the nation.
