The United States is sanctioning the head and key members of Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) that originated in Venezuela and has launched a campaign of terror throughout our hemisphere, said a press release of the US State Department.
Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores (a.k.a “Niño Guerrero”) has a history of being involved in criminal activities for over two decades and currently is the detestable leader of TdA.
Guerrero expanded TdA from a prison gang involved in extortion and bribery to an organization engaged in terrorism with growing influence throughout the Western Hemisphere.
The Department of State, through the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program managed by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Guerrero, it said.
Today’s sanction actions also target five additional key TdA leaders and affiliates, including one of TdA’s co-founders and a close Guerrero lieutenant, Yohan Jose Romero (a.k.a. “Johan Petrica”). INL is also offering a reward of up to $4 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Romero.
These other TdA leaders are involved in atrocious crimes such as illicit drug trade, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, extortion, sexual exploitation of women and children, and money laundering, among other activities, the release added.
This action follows the recent designation of TdA as an FTO and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). The United States is committed to keeping the American people safe by using all available means to eliminate TdA’s threats of violent crime throughout our hemisphere, it reads.
Meanwhile, in another press release, the US Department of State is also adding The Resistance Front (TRF) as a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
TRF and other associated aliases have been added to LeT’s designation as a FTO and SDGT pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and Executive Order 13224, respectively. The Department of State has also reviewed and maintained the FTO designation of LeT. Amendments to FTO designations go into effect upon publication in the Federal Register, the US Department of State’s press release further added.
TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT. TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024, it said.
These actions taken by the Department of State demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting our national security interests, countering terrorism, and enforcing President Trump’s call for justice for the Pahalgam attack, it reads.
