Fear and opacity grip Venezuelan towns after 'Niño Guerrero' death

Fear and opacity hang over the southeastern Venezuelan towns of Las Claritas and Kilómetro 88 a week after a U.S. military operation eliminated Héctor Guerrero Flores, known as "Niño Guerrero," a key figure in the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua. A report by the Venezuelan Program for Education-Action in Human Rights (Provea) indicates that silence and fear of reprisals dominate the mining region.

The joint intervention began on the morning of June 9, 2026, with residents recalling low-flying helicopters and intense explosions in the gold extraction zones. The scale of the operation, focused on dismantling the Tren de Aragua's cells controlling the area, became apparent afterward. However, some locals suspect a geopolitical agenda, noting the military action coincided with the arrival of foreign investors in the El Callao municipality for a technical inspection of the state-owned Minerven company.

"The cleaning of the mines is to hand them over to the Americans. What is unknown now is what will happen to the miners. There are many innocent people who work only to support their families. And in the town, many people benefit from commerce due to the constant movement. Now we don't know what's coming," said a resident of Las Claritas who requested anonymity.

“

The cleaning of the mines is to hand them over to the Americans. What is unknown now is what will happen to the miners. There are many innocent people who work only to support their families. And in the town, many people benefit from commerce due to the constant movement. Now we don't know what's coming.

Doubts persist regarding the operation's execution. While U.S. President Donald Trump announced the lethal strike on Guerrero Flores on Friday, June 12, and the Venezuelan government confirmed it, the exact date of his death remains unclear. Residents question whether it occurred on the day of the White House announcement or on Tuesday, when the most intense clashes were reported in the mining sites. The Venezuelan state has remained silent on further details, despite previous accusations of complicity with irregular armed groups controlling the mines.

"The day after they announced Niño Guerrero's death, we only heard helicopters, buses leaving, and miners abandoning the mines. On Friday, all we heard was an explosion, helicopters, and we saw a cloud of black smoke. The town acted as if nothing happened, but we are aware of what could occur," stated a merchant from Kilómetro 88, who also asked for their identity to be protected. Witnesses told Provea they fear potential reprisals, citing the Venezuelan authorities' abandonment of their responsibilities in these resource-rich areas, which allowed criminal economies to flourish, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents caught in the crossfire.

“

The day after they announced Niño Guerrero's death, we only heard helicopters, buses leaving, and miners abandoning the mines. On Friday, all we heard was an explosion, helicopters, and we saw a cloud of black smoke. The town acted as if nothing happened, but we are aware of what could occur.