Trump Says US Military Strike Killed Leader of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua Gang

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that US forces had killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, better known as Niño Guerrero , the founder and leader of the Venezuelan criminal organisation Tren de Aragua , in a military operation conducted in coordination with Venezuelan authorities. Trump described the mission as a “swift and lethal kinetic strike” carried out by US Southern Command.

The announcement was later confirmed by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth , who said Guerrero was killed earlier this week. Venezuelan officials also acknowledged the operation, stating that security forces clashed with criminal elements in Bolívar state and that Guerrero was “neutralized” during the mission. Authorities said the operation involved intelligence sharing and specialised technology.

The development is significant because Guerrero had been one of the most wanted criminals in the Americas. The US government had offered a $5 million reward for information leading to his capture and had charged him in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy, terrorism-related offences, drug trafficking and other crimes allegedly committed over more than a decade.

Tren de Aragua, which originated inside Venezuela's Tocorón prison, has grown into a vast transnational criminal network accused of involvement in drug trafficking , human trafficking, extortion, money laundering and violent crimes across Latin America, the United States and Europe. Washington designated the group a Foreign Terrorist Organization earlier this year, intensifying efforts to dismantle its leadership.

Guerrero became internationally known after escaping from Tocorón prison in 2023 ahead of a massive security raid. The prison had effectively operated as the gang's headquarters and reportedly contained luxury facilities including a zoo, nightclub, restaurants and sports grounds under gang control. Following his escape, authorities across several countries launched manhunts for the fugitive gang boss.

Trump also released video footage that he showed the strike. While details about additional casualties or arrests remain unclear, the operation represents one of the highest-profile US actions against a Latin American criminal leader and signals Washington's increasingly aggressive campaign against transnational gangs it considers terrorist threats.