Venezuelan prosecutors confirmed the extradition of Gerso Guerrero, brother of the leader of the Aragua Train

The man was arrested in Barcelona, Spain, on March 14, 2024

The Spanish government has extradited Gerso Guerrero, brother of the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang, Héctor Guerrero, to Venezuela. This was confirmed by the Attorney General of the Republic, Tarek William Saab, on July 11.

Saab said Guerrero will be tried in the country for the crimes of aggravated extortion, money laundering, association, illicit trafficking of weapons and ammunition, terrorism and financing of terrorism.

#NOW HE @MinpublicoVEN #INFORMA what

1) the Kingdom of Spain, at the request of the Public Prosecutor’s Office #Venezuela #agreed: the #extradition by Gerso Guerrero, #brother of the subject Hector Guerrero, leader of the Aragua Train, by the #Crimes of aggravated extortion,… pic.twitter.com/3sZqaqbShu

— Tarek William Saab (@TarekWiliamSaab) July 11, 2024

He said that his arrival is expected on the followingnoon of July 11. For this case, he reported that a commission has been formed made up of prosecutors in matters once morest Organized Crime and Human Rights, as well as officials from the Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigations Corps (CICPC).

On March 14, 2024, the Spanish National Police reported that it arrested Venezuelan Gerso Guerrero in Barcelona, Spain, who was wanted for his alleged involvement in crimes of terrorism, human trafficking, arms trafficking, extortion, money laundering, and criminal association.

In recent days, the brother of ‘Niño Guerrero’ (leader of the Aragua Train), Gerso Isaac Guerrero Flores, was arrested in Spain on a red alert requested by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Venezuela, and we have begun the extradition process,” said prosecutor Tarek William Saab in a statement to the press on March 19.

The extradition of Gerso Guerrera takes place on the same day as the US Treasury Department announces sanctions once morest Aragua Trainwhich he described as a “major” transnational criminal organization.

The U.S. Embassy in Colombia and the Colombian police also announced on Thursday, July 11, that they will offer a total of $12 million for the capture of three leaders of the Aragua Train.

“Criminals are always looking for a place to take refuge, and the police forces in Latin America have international cooperation operations to capture the subjects wherever they are, but we still have no information on whether these leaders are in Colombia,” explained the director of the Colombian Police, General William Salamanca.

The three leaders of the organization are Giovanny San Vicente, alias Giovanny; Yohan José Romero, alias Johan Petrica; and Héctor Guerrero Flores, alias Niño Guerrero. Rewards of three, four and five million dollars are offered for them, respectively.

“In recent years, the Aragua Train has become an organization that contributes to fear and confusion, and is an obstacle for the Colombian and American population,” said Francisco Palmieri, chargé d’affaires of the United States embassy in Colombia.

The Prosecutor's Office confirmed the extradition to Venezuela of the brother of the leader of the Aragua Train — Photo: EFE/Mauricio Dueñas Castaneda

Other arrests

On July 1, Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed the capture of alias Larry Changa, one of the main leaders and co-founders of the criminal gang Tren de Aragua, in the Colombian department of Quindío.

“Wanted by Venezuela and Chile with an arrest warrant in 196 countries by Interpol. This is how Larry Changa, one of the three founders of the Aragua Train in Colombia, was captured by the National Police,” the president said on his X account.

According to the Colombian Ministry of Defense, the detainee would have arrived in that country in 2022, obtaining false documents. “He was in charge of the criminal strategy for the territorial expansion of the Aragua Train in Colombian territory,” the agency added.

Days earlier, Colombian police reported the capture of the head of the criminal organization in Bogotá, Salomón Fernández Torres, known as El Salomón.

“These arrests are added to the 79 that the Police have carried out together with the Prosecutor’s Office,” said William Salamanca.

The Tren de Aragua gang originated in Venezuelan prisons and is considered the most powerful criminal gang in the country. In recent years, they have expanded to other countries on the continent.