Venezuelan Criminal Leader Johan Petrica Fugitive After Fellow Founder's Death

Johan José Romero, alias "Johan Petrica," is now the sole founding member of Tren de Aragua still at large after the death of his fellow founder Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as "Niño Guerrero." Niño Guerrero was killed in June 2026 during a joint operation between US and Venezuelan forces near Las Claritas, a gold mining area in Bolívar state. This event has left Petrica as the last original leader of Tren de Aragua who remains free.

Petrica's criminal career began inside Venezuela’s prison system where he helped establish Tren de Aragua alongside Niño Guerrero and Larry Changa. Since 2017, Petrica has led Las Claritas Sindicato, a powerful mining gang that controls a strategic enclave in Bolívar state, including access to one of the world's most lucrative gold deposits. The recent military incursions likely disrupted previous arrangements between the Venezuelan government and the mining gang that allowed for its relative impunity.

Taking over leadership of Tren de Aragua will be challenging for Petrica due to both internal power struggles within the organization and increased pressure from security forces. His existing control over Las Claritas, however, provides a strong base from which he can potentially assert his authority.