The criminal charges against Nicolás Maduro, which led to his capture in Venezuelan territory alongside his wife, Cilia Flores —who is also accused—, also include Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero.” He is identified as the leader of the Tren de Aragua (TDA), allegedly providing armed protection with weaponry for substantial cocaine shipments while offering logistical and security services for the TDA from his prison cell in Tocorón to safeguard over a ton of cocaine.
In addition to these charges, Niño Guerrero faces —in the same U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York— accusations for leading the transnational organization Tren de Aragua, a criminal enterprise that originated in the aforementioned Venezuelan prison and expanded throughout America using terror tactics such as murder, extortion, and kidnapping.
Niño Guerrero is closely linked to the Cartel de los Soles, coordinating efforts to flood U.S. territory with tons of cocaine via maritime and land routes shielded by heavy weaponry. The prosecution alleges conspiracy to engage in organized crime, material support to terrorists, and possession of machine guns.
The Charge Against Niño Guerrero Alongside Maduro
In the indictment naming Nicolás Maduro, Cilia Flores, Vladimir Padrino López, Diosdado Cabello, and Nicolás Maduro Guerra, Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero,” is identified as a leader or co-leader of the Tren de Aragua (TDA) for over a decade.
During this period, members and associates of this criminal organization committed a wide array of crimes including extortion, kidnapping, murder, drug trafficking, arms trafficking, prostitution, human trafficking, theft, bank robberies, and money laundering across Venezuela, the United States, and other countries.
The indictment notes that the Tren de Aragua —designated by the State Department as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO)— has expanded throughout the Western Hemisphere and established a presence in the United States —including New York— where it engages in criminal activities such as human trafficking and other illegal acts. This criminal organization has developed additional sources of income through various illicit activities, including drug trafficking, illegal arms trade, commercial sex trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, theft, fraud, and extortion.
The accusation states that between 2006 and 2008, Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero,” collaborated with one of Venezuela’s top drug traffickers, Walid Makled, who was protected by members of the Venezuelan regime, as were his cocaine shipments transported from San Fernando de Apure to Valencia, and subsequently flown from Valencia International Airport to Mexico and other Central American locations for distribution to the U.S.
Between 2008 and 2009, Niño Guerrero provided protection to another significant Venezuelan drug trafficker for cocaine shipments passing through Venezuela, even supplying armed men carrying, among other automatic weapons, AK-47s, MP5s, and AR-15s, alongside grenades. At times, the accused personally escorted large cocaine shipments guarded by teams of armed men on routes to airports or landing strips for transport northward and subsequent distribution to the United States.
The indictment specifies that Niño Guerrero received a fee per kilogram of cocaine transported or received and, at times, he acquired a stake in portions of these enormous shipments in exchange for payment. He collaborated with 13 traffickers transporting thousands of kilograms per shipment to the United States.
In 2019, Guerrero Flores discussed drug trafficking with an individual who, according to him, collaborated with the Venezuelan regime. In multiple calls, Niño Guerrero offered to escort drug shipments as he and the Tren de Aragua controlled the coasts of the Aragua state. He asserted that from Tocorón prison, he could manage logistics for all aspects of drug trafficking.
In this case, Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero,” faces charges of conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, as well as conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices.
Niño Guerrero and the Criminal Enterprise Tren de Aragua
As previously mentioned, a formal indictment against Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero,” “El Cejón,” and “El Innombrable,” is underway in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, where he is accused of being the leader or co-leader of the transnational criminal enterprise Tren de Aragua (TDA).
The indictment outlines a large-scale criminal operation originating from Tocorón prison that has expanded across America and Europe, engaging in a broad spectrum of illicit activities. The core charges revolve around a conspiracy involving organized crime, encompassing offenses such as murder, extortion, kidnapping, and drug trafficking.
The indictment establishes a strategic alliance between Tren de Aragua and the Cartel de los Soles, a drug trafficking organization made up of high-ranking members of the Venezuelan regime. The goal of this alliance is to “flood” the United States with cocaine.
This criminal enterprise is also accused of running human trafficking and sexual exploitation networks, arms trafficking, and committing acts of terrorism to maintain and expand its territorial control.
In this indictment, Niño Guerrero formalizes four main charges against Guerrero Flores:
- conspiracy to commit a crime,
- conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists,
- conspiracy to import cocaine, and
- possession of military-grade weaponry.
The Tren de Aragua in the United States
The Tren de Aragua has established its presence in several states in the U.S., including New York, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Nebraska, Illinois, and Florida.
It claims that the TDA operates as a national and international criminal organization with a defined behavioral pattern to establish and consolidate its power.
In the U.S., the TDA is organized into subgroups or “cells” based on geographical areas of operation. Each cell has one or more leaders responsible for managing criminal activities, fundraising, ordering acts of violence, and reporting to the higher hierarchy of the TDA in the Americas.
Members and associates cross borders illegally, entering other countries and establishing themselves in specific cities and neighborhoods. They commit crimes and acts of terrorism to establish control over the civilian population and their territories through extortion, kidnappings, robberies, murders, and drug trafficking, as well as weapons trafficking. They expand into new locations, forming cells with local leadership and structure, eventually controlling neighborhoods and entire apartment buildings.
Illicit earnings are laundered, even through cryptocurrencies, with a portion of the profits transferred to TDA leaders in South America, including Guerrero Flores.
Drug Trafficking and Alliance with the Cartel de los Soles
The Tren de Aragua, as previously mentioned, maintains an alliance with the Cartel de los Soles, aiming to “flood” the United States with cocaine, seeking to “use drugs as a weapon” and inflicting harmful effects on the American population.
Guerrero Flores directed and personally participated in transporting cocaine from Venezuela. He supervised teams of heavily armed individuals to protect the shipments. In exchange, he received a fee per kilogram transported or a share in the shipments.
The cocaine, manufactured in Colombia, was transported from Venezuela via clandestine airstrips or maritime routes to Central America, and subsequently through Mexico to the U.S. border.
The TDA also operates a sophisticated network of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, focusing on the smuggling and trafficking of young women, whom they referred to as “fined.” Victims were transported from Venezuela to countries like Peru, Colombia, Mexico, and ultimately to the United States, being forced to repay a debt through commercial sex work. Compliance was ensured through extreme violence.
Furthermore, Héctor Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero,” also participated in:
- Arms Trafficking: He sold firearms on a large scale —AK-47s, MP5s, and AR-15s— to drug traffickers in Venezuela to protect their cocaine shipments.
- Other Income-Generating Crimes: The TDA generates revenue through various crimes: extortions and kidnappings; theft, retail shoplifting, and armed robberies; bank robberies and fraud; distribution of controlled substances, including cocaine, marijuana, and a mixed substance referred to as “tusi,” which contains ketamine.