US President Donald Trump announced this Friday the death of Héctor Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero,” considered the top leader of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua, one of the most widespread transnational criminal structures in Latin America.
Through a message published on his social network Truth, Trump assured that the United States Southern Command executed a “fast and lethal” operation that culminated in the death of the Venezuelan kingpin, who had been a fugitive since 2023 following the takeover of the Tocorón prison by Venezuelan authorities.
“The Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have a safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else,” the American president stated.
The death of Guerrero Flores represents a symbolic blow to the organization, which grew from a prison gang dedicated to extortion into a criminal network with a presence in multiple countries across the continent. However, specialists and authorities agree that the demise of its main leader does not necessarily imply the end of the organization’s operations.
In Mexico, the presence of the Tren de Aragua has been documented for several years, and security investigations reveal that the organization managed to establish criminal networks linked to human trafficking, sexual exploitation, migrant smuggling, retail drug dealing, and extortion.
Héctor Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero,” was identified for years as the main leader of the Tren de Aragua.
From Venezuela to Mexico: the expansion of a transnational organization
The Tren de Aragua was born in Venezuela and consolidated its power from the Aragua Penitentiary Center, known as the Tocorón prison. Under the leadership of “Niño Guerrero,” the group expanded its operations into Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Costa Rica, the United States, and Mexico.
The first alerts about its presence in Mexican territory emerged in 2022, when authorities detected activities of the group in municipalities of Chiapas, particularly in Tapachula and Frontera Chimalapa.
According to security records, members of the organization began by operating loan schemes known as “gota a gota” (drop by drop) and recruiting women for sexual exploitation networks.
They later expanded their criminal catalog into retail drug dealing, the control of clandestine bars, the management of short-stay hotels, and various extortion schemes.
Investigations also indicate that the group sought alliances with local criminal cells to facilitate migrant smuggling and the organization of caravans bound for the northern border of Mexico.
Security sources have pointed out that, to consolidate their presence, members of the organization went as far as paying fees to already established criminal groups, obtaining protection to move drugs and weapons and to operate illicit businesses.
Mexico City, one of the main focuses of investigation
The presence of the Tren de Aragua gained national notoriety in 2024 following a series of investigations carried out by Mexico City authorities.
The case that raised alarms was the discovery of the bodies of two young Venezuelan women, identified as Stephanie and Susej, found dead in the area of San Miguel Topilejo, in the Tlalpan borough.
During the inquiries, investigative agents detected an unusual concentration of Venezuelan women engaged in prostitution in the Sullivan area, in the Cuauhtémoc borough.
Interviews conducted with victims and witnesses began to reveal a common pattern: threats, fee collections, and constant references to the Tren de Aragua.
In 2024, the feminicide of Stephanie and Susej occurred in CDMX, which provided indications that the organization was operating in the Mexican capital. (X/@IzgMadeel)
The investigations led to operations against hotels and properties allegedly used to house women forced into sex work under exploitation schemes.
Months later, federal and Mexico City authorities arrested five Venezuelan citizens presumably related to a human trafficking, retail drug dealing, and sexual exploitation network linked to the criminal organization.
Among those detained was Euclides Manuel “N”, alias “Morgan,” identified as the alleged material author of the feminicide of the two young Venezuelan women.
Authorities also seized drugs, firearms, and communication devices during the raids carried out at various properties in the capital.
Presence on the northern border and control of migrants
In addition to Chiapas and Mexico City, security agencies have documented activities related to the Tren de Aragua in states such as Chihuahua, Tamaulipas, Tabasco, and Baja California.
The organization dedicates itself, among other things, to gota a gota loans. – credit Laud
In Ciudad Juárez, for example, state authorities identified members of the organization embedded within migrant flows coming from South America.
According to reports, some of its members initially dedicated themselves to collecting fees from migrants for services such as lodging, transportation, the sale of cell phones, and protection during the journey toward the United States.
However, investigations warn that once they gain access to firearms and establish local criminal contacts, the activities evolve into more violent crimes, including kidnappings, extortions, and homicides.
Although the then-Secretary of Security and Civil Protection, Omar García Harfuch, stated in 2024 that the Tren de Aragua did not rank among the main drivers of violence in Mexico, the organization remains under surveillance by federal authorities due to its transnational character and the concerns expressed by the US government.
The death of “Niño Guerrero” marks an important chapter in the history of this criminal organization. However, for authorities in different countries, including Mexico, the challenge remains to contain a structure that has demonstrated the capacity to adapt, recruit members, and expand beyond Venezuelan borders.
Source: infobae
