U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that American forces carried out a military strike that killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, widely known as “Niño Guerrero,” the alleged leader of the Venezuelan-based criminal organisation, Tren de Aragua.
Trump disclosed the development in a statement posted on social media on Friday, describing the operation as a “swift and lethal kinetic strike” conducted by the U.S. Southern Command in coordination with Venezuelan authorities.
According to the U.S. president, Guerrero Flores was the head of Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal group that Washington has designated a foreign terrorist organisation.
The operation reportedly took place in Venezuela’s Bolívar State, although details of the mission have not been fully disclosed. Venezuelan authorities later confirmed Guerrero Flores’ death, describing the action as a joint operation against criminal elements.
Guerrero Flores, also known as “Niño Guerrero,” had been a fugitive since escaping from prison in Venezuela in 2023. U.S. authorities had previously indicted him on charges including racketeering, drug trafficking, firearms offences and providing support to terrorist activities. A reward had also been offered for information leading to his arrest.
Tren de Aragua originated as a prison gang in Venezuela but later expanded across several countries in Latin America and beyond. Authorities have linked the organisation to crimes including drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and money laundering.
In his statement, Trump described the group as one of the world’s most violent criminal organisations and said his administration remained committed to pursuing gang leaders and drug traffickers wherever they operate.
The strike marks a significant development in U.S. efforts against transnational criminal networks and reflects a new level of security cooperation between Washington and Venezuelan authorities.
Neither the White House nor the Pentagon immediately released further operational details regarding the mission.
