US‑Venezuelan joint operation kills gang leader Héctor “Niño Guerrero” in Bolívar

The Venezuelan government announced that a joint operation with the United States was carried out in the southeastern state of Bolívar, resulting in the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero.” Guerrero was identified as the top leader of the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua. The operation involved technological support and intelligence sharing between the two countries, and President Donald Trump publicly confirmed the killing, labeling the gang a terrorist group. Guerrero, 42, had been a fugitive since 2023 after escaping a prison raid and was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2025. The Tren de Aragua, originally formed in Venezuelan prisons, has expanded its activities across Latin America and the United States.