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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Crime & Justice

DEA Chief: 'Niño Guerrero's' Death is Major Blow to Tren de Aragua

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The death of Venezuelan criminal leader Héctor Guerrero Flores, known as "Niño Guerrero," is a significant blow to the Tren de Aragua organization.
  • DEA chief Terrance Cole stated that criminal leaders cannot escape justice and vowed continued pursuit of terrorist cartels.
  • The operation, coordinated with Venezuela, occurred five months after the U.S. captured Nicolás Maduro, accusing his government of cooperating with Tren de Aragua.

The death of Héctor Guerrero Flores, alias "Niño Guerrero," marks a significant setback for the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua, according to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) chief Terrance Cole. Cole emphasized that criminal leaders cannot evade justice, stating, "He thought he could escape law enforcement from a safe haven. He was wrong."

The death of Héctor 'Niño' Guerrero represents a significant setback for the Tren de Aragua and a reminder that criminal leaders cannot escape justice.

— Terrance ColeDEA chief Terrance Cole commenting on the death of Niño Guerrero and its impact on the criminal organization.

Cole vowed that the DEA and its partners would continue to relentlessly pursue designated terrorist cartels and their leaders globally. "No rank is beyond their reach, no safe haven is permanent, and no organization is above accountability," he warned. He added that sustained pressure weakens these criminal groups' ability to traffic lethal drugs, spread violence, and threaten community safety.

He thought he could escape law enforcement from a safe haven. He was wrong.

— Terrance ColeDEA chief Terrance Cole asserting that criminal leaders are not beyond the reach of justice.

The operation against Niño Guerrero, for whom the United States had offered a $5 million reward, was coordinated by the U.S. Southern Command in close collaboration with Venezuela. This development follows the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the U.S. five months prior, with accusations that his government was cooperating with the Tren de Aragua, an organization linked to extortion, kidnapping, and human trafficking.

The DEA and our partners will continue to relentlessly pursue designated terrorist cartels and their leaders wherever they operate. No rank is beyond their reach, no safe haven is permanent, and no organization is above accountability.

— Terrance ColeDEA chief Terrance Cole vowing continued action against criminal organizations.

Niño Guerrero had become one of South America's most wanted criminals. His demise is viewed as another victory for U.S. law enforcement efforts against transnational criminal enterprises. The operation occurred in a mining area in Venezuela's Bolívar state, following rumors linking the search to Guerrero.

The constant pressure on these criminal organizations weakens their ability to traffic lethal drugs, spread violence, and threaten the safety of our communities.

— Terrance ColeDEA chief Terrance Cole explaining the impact of ongoing pressure on criminal groups.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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