Search underway for criminal leader who ran exclusive prison in Venezuela

Authorities in South America are on the hunt for the leader of a Venezuelan gang who escaped from a luxurious prison just before it was raided. Héctor Guerrero Flores, who was in charge of the Tocorón jail in Venezuela, disappeared when 11,000 soldiers and police entered the facility. Under Guerrero Flores's control, the prison had features of a luxury resort, including a zoo, a nightclub, and a swimming pool. The 39-year-old has been in and out of Tocorón prison for over a decade and managed to bribe the guards and escape in 2012. After his re-arrest in 2013, it seemed that his power over the jail and those guarding him only grew. Guerrero Flores turned Tocorón into the main hub of the Tren de Aragua transnational crime gang, and it became equipped with various luxurious amenities. Families of inmates even moved into the compound, and inmates had access to a makeshift bank, a betting shop, a restaurant, and more. It is reported that Guerrero Flores could freely come and go from the prison, which allowed him to expand his criminal network into other countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile. The massive security operation at Tocorón prison was initiated in response to pressure from Latin American leaders, and although the absence of Guerrero Flores was noted during the raid, Venezuelan officials did not disclose his escape until three days later. President Nicolás Maduro praised the raid but admitted that some inmates had escaped due to corruption among officials who had alerted them to the security operation. Authorities in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Venezuela are currently conducting a search for Héctor Guerrero Flores.