Gerso Guerrero, brother of Héctor Guerrero Flores (aka El Niño Guerrero) upon his arrival to Venezuela after being extradited by Spain, on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Photo: X/@CeballosIchaso1.
The attorney general of Venezuela, Tarek William Saab, has reported that Gerso Guerrero Flores has been extradited to Venezuela, and will have to face the crimes of aggravated extortion, money laundering, association, illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition, terrorism, and financing of terrorism, for which “he will be judged mercilessly.”
The extradition of Guerrero Flores, reported by Saab this Thursday, July 11, follows his arrest by Spanish authorities in Madrid on March 7, in response to an Interpol red notice requested by Venezuelan authorities. Since then, the Venezuelan Public Ministry initiated the extradition procedures, which has been approved by the Criminal Chamber of the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ).
Gerso Guerrero is the brother of Héctor Guerrero Flores (aka El Niño Guerrero), leader of the Tren de Aragua, a criminal gang that was dismembered in Venezuelan territory when law enforcement agencies took control of the Aragua Penitentiary Center, located in Tocorón, through Operation Gran Cacique Guaicaipuro, executed on September 20, 2023 under the direction of minister of the interior, Remigio Ceballos. Guerrero had been on the run since then, having fled through a tunnel system in the raided penitentiary center.
Avanzamos en la cooperación internacional, hoy con el Reino de #España, fue extraditado el criminal Gerson Guerrero, hermano del terrorista Héctor Guerrero, del extinto Tren de Aragua, ambos requeridos por la justicia venezolana tras cometer diversos delitos contra el pueblo. pic.twitter.com/y54Hw2u5hW
— @FuerzaDinamica Remigio Ceballos Ichaso (@CeballosIchaso1) July 11, 2024
The TSJ’s Criminal Chamber also took into consideration that Guerrero has an arrest warrant issued on November 3, 2023 by the Third Special Control Court with Jurisdiction in Cases Related to Crimes Associated with Terrorism, as reported by Ultimas Noticias.
The extradition of Gerso Guerrero coincides with an announcement, also made on Thursday, by Francisco Palmieri, the US ambassador to Colombia, that the US government is now offering rewards of up to US$12 million for information leading to the arrest of three members of the top ranks of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization.
The three individuals for whom the US is offering rewards are Héctor Guerrero Flores (US$5 million), Johan Jose Romero (US$4 million), and Giovanny San Vicente (US$3 million).
An informant outside prison grounds
Venezuelan police investigations classify Gerso Guerrero as a “gatekeeper outside the prison,” which refers to a person who informed the top ranks of the criminal organization about the movements of law enforcement agencies, in order to guarantee the success of their criminal operations. Additionally, being the brother of the leader of the Tren de Aragua, he held a position in the top rank of that gang, according to reports.
Attorney Generals of Venezuela & Colombia to Assess Destabilization Plans
The Tren de Aragua criminal organization has been significantly dismantled within Venezuelan territory since 2023; however, its international network remains active, and there is ongoing international coordination to neutralized it.
The Venezuelan Ministry for Interior is carrying out a campaign via social media informing about a reward in US dollars for those who provide information to help them capture El Niño Guerrero and other wanted criminals, many of whom escaped just hours before the execution of Operation Gran Cacique Guaicaipuro in the Tocorón prison in 2023.
On July 1, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the capture of Larry Amaury Álvarez Núñez (Larry Changa), one of the clan members among those who fled Tocorón prison. Larry Changa was captured by the Colombian National Police in the rural area of the Department of Quindio, according to the president’s report.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/AU
