Trump Says Leader of Venezuelan Tren de Aragua Gang Killed in U.S. Strike
Operation Targeting ‘Niño Guerrero’ Marks Major Escalation in U.S. Campaign Against Transnational Crime
In a significant development in the United States’ campaign against transnational criminal organizations, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces had carried out a “swift and lethal kinetic strike” that killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, widely known as “Niño Guerrero,” the alleged leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. According to the President, the operation was conducted by the U.S. Southern Command and coordinated with Venezuelan authorities.
Trump described Tren de Aragua as one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist organizations and said the operation represented a major victory in the administration’s broader effort to dismantle international criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion, and organized violence. The announcement was made on Truth Social, where Trump also shared a video that he said depicted the strike.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth subsequently stated that Guerrero had been confirmed killed during the operation, while Venezuelan officials acknowledged that security forces had engaged criminal groups during the mission and that the gang leader had been “neutralized.” Authorities indicated that intelligence sharing and specialized technology played a role in the operation.
Guerrero had long been one of the most wanted figures associated with organized crime in Latin America. U.S. prosecutors previously charged him with racketeering conspiracy and other serious offenses, while the U.S. government had offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture or conviction. Under his leadership, Tren de Aragua expanded from a Venezuelan prison gang into a transnational criminal network operating across multiple countries in the Americas.
The operation also carries geopolitical significance. Trump stated that it reflected growing cooperation between Washington and Venezuelan authorities, describing bilateral coordination as working “very well.” Analysts note that such cooperation would represent an important shift in regional security efforts against organized crime, although further official details about the operation’s location and execution remain limited.
Despite the announcement, independent information about the strike itself remains limited, and authorities have not publicly released extensive operational details. More information is expected as U.S. and Venezuelan officials provide additional briefings.
