Washington: US President Donald Trump has announced that Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, widely known by his alias “Niño Guerrero” and identified as the alleged leader of the notorious Tren de Aragua criminal organisation, was killed during a targeted American military operation.
In a statement shared on social media, Trump described the mission as a “swift and decisive” strike carried out under his direction. He claimed the operation was aimed at dismantling one of the world’s most dangerous transnational crime syndicates, which Washington has officially designated as a foreign terrorist organisation.
According to Trump, the action was coordinated with Venezuelan authorities and forms part of a broader campaign against international cartels and organised criminal networks accused of drug trafficking, extortion and violent offences across the Americas.
Guerrero Flores had long been one of the most wanted figures linked to organised crime. US authorities had previously announced criminal charges against him, including racketeering conspiracy and support for terrorist-related activities. A reward of up to five million dollars had also been offered for information leading to his capture.
The alleged gang leader escaped from Venezuela’s Tocorón prison during a major security operation in 2023, after which his whereabouts remained unknown. Investigators believe he played a key role in expanding the influence of Tren de Aragua beyond Venezuela into several countries in Latin America and beyond.
Tren de Aragua has been accused by law enforcement agencies of involvement in human trafficking, extortion, kidnappings, contract killings, money laundering and organised theft. The group is also believed to have exploited migrant routes across South America for criminal operations.
While Trump hailed the reported killing as a significant victory against organised crime, the Pentagon has not released additional operational details beyond the President’s public statement.
The development is expected to have major implications for ongoing efforts to dismantle transnational criminal networks operating across the Western Hemisphere, although analysts note that investigations into the group’s wider structure and activities are likely to continue.
