By Newspot Nigeria Global Desk
United States President Donald Trump has announced that Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, popularly known as “Niño Guerrero,” the alleged leader of the notorious Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), has been killed in a military operation coordinated between the United States and Venezuelan authorities.
Trump made the announcement on Friday through his Truth Social platform, stating that the operation was carried out by the United States Southern Command and resulted in what he described as a “swift and lethal kinetic strike” against the gang leader. The U.S. President said the operation was conducted in close coordination with authorities in Venezuela.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later confirmed that Guerrero was killed during the operation, which reportedly took place earlier this week. Venezuelan officials also acknowledged security operations against criminal groups in the country’s Bolívar State, saying the gang leader was neutralized during clashes involving security forces.
Guerrero was one of the most wanted criminal figures in Latin America and was widely regarded as the architect of Tren de Aragua’s transformation from a prison-based gang into a transnational criminal network operating across several countries in the Americas. The group has been linked to human trafficking, drug trafficking, kidnapping, extortion, money laundering, contract killings, and migrant smuggling.
The United States had previously sanctioned Guerrero and designated Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization as part of a broader campaign against transnational criminal networks. U.S. authorities accused the organization of expanding its operations beyond Venezuela and establishing a presence in multiple countries throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Trump used the announcement to highlight his administration’s crackdown on organized crime and illegal immigration, arguing that Tren de Aragua had exploited weaknesses in border security to expand its reach. He described the group as one of the world’s most dangerous criminal organizations and vowed that the United States would continue pursuing its members wherever they operate.
The reported killing of Guerrero marks one of the most significant blows ever dealt to Tren de Aragua and could reshape the organization’s leadership structure. Security analysts, however, note that criminal networks often survive the loss of key leaders, making it uncertain whether the operation will significantly weaken the group’s long-term activities across the region.
Authorities in both Washington and Caracas have not yet released detailed information regarding the operation, including whether additional gang members were killed or captured. Investigations and follow-up security operations are expected to continue in areas where Tren de Aragua has maintained a strong presence.
— Newspot Nigeria
