US President Donald Trump announced Friday that a U.S. military operation had killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as “Niño Guerrero,” the alleged leader of the notorious Tren de Aragua criminal organization.
According to Trump, the operation was a rapid and targeted strike carried out in Venezuela. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strike took place earlier in the week against a Tren de Aragua compound and highlighted cooperation between the United States and Venezuela in combating organized crime and narcotics trafficking.
Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan-based gang that has expanded across Latin America and into the United States, has been designated a terrorist organization by U.S. authorities. Guerrero Flores had previously been charged in federal court in New York with racketeering, terrorism-related offenses, drug trafficking, extortion, and other criminal activities spanning more than a decade.
In a statement on social media, Trump declared that members of the gang would no longer find safe haven in Venezuela or elsewhere, vowing continued action against criminal organizations involved in violence and drug trafficking. His post included aerial footage showing a building being destroyed in an apparent strike.
The U.S. State Department had previously offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero Flores’ capture.
The operation is part of a broader campaign by the Trump administration targeting what it describes as “narcoterrorist” groups. In recent months, U.S. forces have conducted operations against vessels suspected of smuggling drugs across the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.
Trump and senior administration officials have frequently cited Tren de Aragua as a major contributor to crime and illegal drug activity affecting communities in the United States. The administration has also accused the gang of maintaining ties to the Venezuelan government, although U.S. intelligence assessments have disputed claims that the organization operated under the direct control of President Nicolás Maduro.
Tren de Aragua emerged more than a decade ago inside a prison in Venezuela’s Aragua state. Under Guerrero Flores’ leadership, the gang reportedly gained control of the facility and expanded its influence through extortion, violence, and other criminal enterprises. The prison eventually became known for its unusual level of inmate control, with amenities including restaurants, sports facilities, and entertainment venues.
As economic hardship and political instability drove millions of Venezuelans to migrate abroad, the gang expanded its presence throughout the region. Authorities in countries such as Peru and Colombia have linked the group to violent crimes and extortion targeting migrant communities.
The announcement comes as immigration and crime remain key issues in U.S. politics. Trump, who campaigned on strengthening border security and combating organized crime, continues to emphasize those priorities during his second term.