On the Radar: Criminal Shake-Ups in Ecuador and Venezuela as Colombia Votes on Security

Will the killing of Tren de Aragua founder Niño Guerrero have much impact on organized crime?

Does the capture of “Fito”’s brother in Ecuador promise to improve the security situation there?

And which Colombian presidential candidate will win over voters on security in the second round of voting?

This week’s top three organized crime stories, in On the Radar.

1: US Kills Tren de Aragua Leader in Venezuela

Niño Guerrero was the latest casualty of missile strikes by the United States in the region, this time in partnership with Venezuela in the southern state of Bolivar. He was killed last week, bringing an end to his criminal career, in which he went from a common thief and drug dealer to the founder of the Tren de Aragua prison gang. 

But the importance of Niño Guerrero’s death could be overestimated as a new expansion by Tren de Aragua in Brazil hit the headlines this week. See InSight Crime’s coverage of Niño Guerrero’s rise and fall in this week’s coverage, as well as our analysis of how the gang—already deeply fragmented, especially as it had expanded into countries including Peru and Chile—is unlikely to be much impacted by his demise. 

2: Fito’s Brother Captured

Javier Macías Villamar, alias “Javi,” the brother of Ecuador’s Choneros leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar, alias “Fito,” was arrested in Colombia. Javi was the focus of an Interpol red notice, and had been living in Colombia under a false identity. His brother Fito, perhaps the most famed gang leader in Ecuador’s history, was extradited to the United States in July 2025 to face drug and arms trafficking charges.

Javi’s capture, alongside May 2026 asset laundering convictions of Fito’s romantic partner and five other family members, will likely seriously impact the Choneros’ financial and operational core and may further fragment the organization.

3: Security Looms Large in Colombia Elections

And finally, the conservative Abelardo de la Espriella and leftist Iván Cepeda, who offer opposing visions for Colombia’s future on security, drugs, and peace, will face off in the country’s presidential runoff this weekend.

Cepeda is preaching peace, and facing off against former lawyer and Trump admirer de la Espriella, who has vowed to unleash the security forces on all of Colombia’s illegal actors. The Colombian people will have to decide if they want to embrace more hardline security approaches, or stick to intentions for peace.

See InSightCrime.org for deep coverage and profiles of all of this week’s issues.