US‑Venezuela strike kills Tren de Aragua leader Niño Guerrero
Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero”, the founder and head of the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua, was killed in a swift, lethal kinetic strike carried out by the U.S. Southern Command in southeastern Bolívar state, Venezuela. The operation was announced by President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform, where he said the attack was executed “at my direction” and was closely coordinated with Venezuelan authorities.
Tren de Aragua, designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in 2025, has operated from prisons in Aragua to a network spanning Colombia, Peru, Chile, Brazil and the United States, engaging in drug trafficking, extortion, human‑smuggling and other violent crimes. Guerrero, born in Maracay in 1983, built the gang’s power while incarcerated in the Tocorón prison, turning it into a fortified base with luxury facilities. He was wanted by U.S. prosecutors on racketeering, terrorism‑support and drug‑conspiracy charges, with a $5 million reward offered for information leading to his capture.
Venezuelan officials confirmed the strike and said Guerrero was neutralized during clashes with criminal groups, noting joint intelligence and technical support from the United States. The death is hailed by the Trump administration as a major blow to a group it describes as one of the most bloodthirsty terrorist organizations in the hemisphere.