Le président américain Donald Trump claimed on Friday that the U.S. armed forces had killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, better known as "Niño Guerrero", leader of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, in a military strike this week.
In a message posted on his Truth Social network, Donald Trump stated that the operation was conducted by the United States Southern Command on his instructions. According to him, the strike eliminated the leader of one of the most feared criminal organizations in the Americas.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on the X network that Guerrero was killed during the operation. Venezuelan authorities did not immediately respond to these statements.
The US administration has been targeting Tren de Aragua and its top officials for several years. Washington accuses the group of being involved in numerous criminal activities, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, kidnappings, and contract killings.
The U.S. State Department has designated Tren de Aragua a foreign terrorist organization. Donald Trump has also accused the gang of having ties to the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, an allegation consistently denied by Caracas.
Originating in Tocorón prison in Venezuela, Tren de Aragua has become one of the most influential criminal groups in Latin America over the years. The organization is particularly known for controlling several migration routes used by Venezuelan migrants to various countries on the continent.
Niño Guerrero escaped from Tocorón prison in 2023, shortly before a major police operation against the gang. Since his escape, he had been among the most wanted criminals in the region.
If the death of the leader of Tren de Aragua is independently confirmed, it would represent a major blow to the criminal organization. It remains to be seen what impact this operation will have on the group's activities, whose influence extends from Venezuela to several South American countries.
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