Trump Says U.S. Strike Eliminated Notorious Tren de Aragua Boss

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that a top leader of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua was killed in a U.S. military strike conducted in coordination with Venezuelan authorities.

According to Trump, the operation targeted Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, widely known as “Niño Guerrero,” the alleged leader of the gang. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said the strike was carried out by the U.S. Southern Command and described it as a major victory against transnational organized crime.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later confirmed that the operation had taken place earlier in the week and that Guerrero was killed during the strike. Venezuelan authorities also acknowledged an operation against criminal elements, stating that security forces were involved in clashes that resulted in the gang leader being “neutralized.”

Guerrero had long been considered one of the most wanted criminal figures in Latin America. U.S. prosecutors previously charged him with racketeering conspiracy, terrorism-related offenses, drug trafficking, and other crimes linked to the expansion of Tren de Aragua beyond Venezuela’s borders. The U.S. government had offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture.

Tren de Aragua, which originated in Venezuela’s prison system, has grown into a transnational criminal network with operations reported across several countries in Latin America and beyond. The organization has been accused of involvement in human trafficking, extortion, drug smuggling, kidnapping, and other organized criminal activities. The United States designated the group a foreign terrorist organization as part of a broader crackdown on transnational gangs.

The announcement comes amid heightened U.S. security operations targeting criminal organizations in the region. Analysts say the death of Guerrero could significantly disrupt the gang’s leadership structure, though concerns remain about potential succession battles and the group’s continued operations across multiple countries.

While U.S. officials have portrayed the strike as a major success in the fight against organized crime, observers note that questions remain about the long-term impact on the group’s activities and the broader security situation in the region.