Primero Justicia backed the US military operation that ended the life of Niño Guerrero

Venezuelan opposition party Primero Justicia (PJ) has publicly backed the US military operation that led to the death of Héctor Guerrero, widely known as Niño Guerrero, the top leader of the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua. The party lauded the "firm decision" by US President Donald Trump to execute the operation, which was reportedly supported by the Venezuelan government.

Trump announced that the US Southern Command carried out a "swift and lethal" strike to eliminate Guerrero, whom Washington designates as a terrorist. The operation took place in Venezuela's Bolívar state. PJ expressed its "recognition to international allies for their efforts to guarantee the security of the hemisphere," supporting a vision of a Venezuela free from the organized crime that has inflicted significant harm on the country and the region.

"This mega-gang, which was born under the permissiveness of the (Nicolás) Maduro regime, has not only damaged the image of Venezuelan migration but has also spread terrorism and crime throughout the continent," the party stated on the social media platform X. PJ asserted that a democratic transition in Venezuela is "urgent" to definitively dismantle the organized mafias currently controlling strategic spaces.

Primero Justicia underscored the imperative to restore institutional frameworks and state powers, making justice the cornerstone of democracy. This, they believe, will lay the foundation for a prosperous and secure nation. The US Treasury Department had previously sanctioned Guerrero and other Tren de Aragua members in 2025, accusing him of transforming a prison gang focused on extortion and bribery into a continental criminal network. Guerrero had been a fugitive since 2023, following an operation at Tocorón prison, the organization's former base of operations.