Washington (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump has announced that Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, better known as “Niño Guerrero” and identified as the alleged chief of the notorious Tren de Aragua network, has been killed in a military operation carried out by the United States.
Making the announcement through his social media platform Truth Social, Trump described the mission as a precise and successful strike conducted under the command of the US Southern Command. He hailed the operation as a major victory in Washington’s campaign against transnational criminal organisations.
The US administration has classified Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organisation, accusing it of involvement in violent crimes, narcotics trafficking and organised criminal activities across multiple countries. Trump said the operation reflected his administration’s commitment to dismantling groups that threaten regional security.
The President further stated that the mission was carried out in coordination with authorities in Venezuela and claimed that the gang would no longer have a safe operating base. He reiterated that his administration would continue pursuing criminal organisations wherever they operate.
Guerrero Flores had been under the radar of American investigators for years. In late 2025, federal prosecutors in New York filed charges against him, including racketeering conspiracy and allegations linked to supporting terrorist-related criminal enterprises. The US government had also announced a reward of up to five million dollars for information leading to his capture.
Despite Trump’s announcement, the Pentagon has not issued any independent statement detailing the operation or confirming additional aspects of the strike.
Tren de Aragua originated inside Venezuela’s Tocorón prison and gradually transformed into a cross-border criminal syndicate with influence in several Latin American nations. Investigators have connected the organisation to extortion, kidnappings, human trafficking, contract killings and smuggling operations.
Authorities believe the gang expanded alongside large migration flows from Venezuela, exploiting vulnerable routes and extending its criminal network across South America. However, experts have noted that its role in global cocaine trafficking remains less significant than that of several other regional cartels.
Niño Guerrero had reportedly escaped from Tocorón prison during a large-scale security operation in 2023 and remained one of the most wanted figures linked to organised crime until Trump’s announcement of his death.
