NYC Local News: Tren de Aragua Leader Niño Guerrero Charged in Manhattan Federal Court With Terrorism, Racketeering, and Cocaine Trafficking
Leader of Tren de Aragua Charged in Manhattan Federal Court With Racketeering, Terrorism, Drug Trafficking, and Firearms Offenses
Manhattan Voice
December 18, 2025
The case, announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, accuses Guerrero Flores of running a violent international crime syndicate responsible for terrorism, mass cocaine trafficking into the United States, weapons trafficking, and organized violence across multiple continents.
Guerrero Flores, 42, a Venezuelan national, remains at large, and the U.S. Department of State is offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction.
Who Is Niño Guerrero?
According to federal prosecutors, Guerrero Flores—also known as “El Cejón” and “El Innombrable”—has served as the leader or co-leader of Tren de Aragua for more than a decade. What began as a Venezuelan prison gang allegedly evolved under his leadership into a sophisticated terrorist-style criminal enterprise operating throughout North America, South America, and Europe.
Authorities say Guerrero Flores ran much of the organization from Tocorón Prison in Venezuela, where he allegedly exercised near-total control over prison operations while directing crimes abroad.
What Is Tren de Aragua?
Tren de Aragua (TdA) originated in Venezuela in the early 2000s and later expanded internationally as members migrated—often illegally—into other countries, including the United States.
Federal prosecutors describe TdA as a cell-based transnational criminal organization that establishes control by:
- Terrorizing neighborhoods
- Extorting civilians
- Kidnapping and murdering rivals
- Trafficking drugs, weapons, and people
TdA is alleged to have a presence in New York, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Illinois, and other U.S. states, as well as Colombia, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and Spain.
Allegations of Terrorism and Extreme Violence
The indictment alleges that Guerrero Flores ordered, directed, and facilitated acts of terrorism and violence that crossed international borders. These include:
- Murders and kidnappings
- Armed extortion campaigns
- Sex trafficking and forced prostitution
- Robberies and bank burglaries
Prosecutors say TdA’s tactics allowed the group to seize control of entire apartment buildings and neighborhoods, forcing residents to comply under threat of violence.
Partnership With the Cartel de los Soles
One of the most serious allegations involves Guerrero Flores’s alleged collaboration with the Cártel de los Soles, a Venezuelan drug trafficking organization tied to corrupt high-ranking government and military officials.
According to court filings, Guerrero Flores and TdA:
- Helped transport hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States
- Protected drug shipments using AK-47s, MP5s, AR-15s, and grenades
- Sold military-grade firearms directly to cocaine traffickers
Cocaine allegedly moved from Colombia and Venezuela, through Central America and Mexico, before crossing into the U.S. Prosecutors say some shipments exceeded thousands of kilograms at a time.
Federal Charges and Potential Sentences
Guerrero Flores is charged with multiple federal crimes, including:
- Racketeering conspiracy (up to 20 years in prison)
- Conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists (up to 15 years)
- Cocaine importation conspiracy (mandatory minimum 10 years, up to life)
- Using machine guns and destructive devices in drug trafficking (mandatory minimum 30 years, up to life)
If convicted on all counts, Guerrero Flores faces the possibility of life in federal prison.
A Major U.S. Law Enforcement Effort
The case is part of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV) and Operation Take Back America, a nationwide Justice Department initiative targeting transnational criminal organizations, drug cartels, and violent gangs operating in the United States.
Agencies involved include:
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
Federal officials say the investigation reflects a “whole-of-government” strategy aimed at dismantling TdA’s leadership, finances, weapons pipelines, and international networks.
What Happens Next?
Guerrero Flores remains a fugitive, and U.S. officials say efforts to locate and arrest him are ongoing. Prosecutors emphasize that the charges are allegations, and Guerrero Flores is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Still, authorities describe the case as one of the most significant actions to date against Tren de Aragua, signaling that U.S. law enforcement intends to pursue TdA leadership wherever they operate—inside or outside the United States.
As federal officials made clear: borders, prisons, and corruption will not shield alleged terrorist leaders from accountability.
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