President Donald Trump announced Friday that Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Venezuelan transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua, was killed in a military operation. U.S. officials described the operation as a joint effort targeting the gang, conducted with support from Venezuela and involving the U.S. Southern Command.
"Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else." — President Donald Trump
The President characterized the mission as a component of his administration’s ongoing campaign against cartels and criminal organizations operating across the Western Hemisphere. In a statement released on social media, President Trump labeled Tren de Aragua as one of the world’s most dangerous terrorist organizations. He asserted that the operation successfully eliminated a key figure responsible for violence, extortion, and drug trafficking activities spanning multiple countries. "Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else," President Trump stated, affirming his administration's commitment to pursuing cartel leaders and criminal organizations wherever they operate.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also commented on the operation, praising it as a demonstration of increasing cooperation between the United States and its regional partners. "The operation underscores the shared U.S. and Venezuelan commitment to take the fight to narco-terrorists and deny them any safe haven in our hemisphere," Hegseth said in a statement.
Details regarding the operation's specifics remained limited following the President's announcement. The Pentagon did not immediately release additional information, with defense officials not providing data on the precise location of the strike, the number of casualties, or the specific military assets deployed.
Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, widely known as “Niño,” had been one of the most sought-after leaders associated with Tren de Aragua. Federal prosecutors in New York had charged him in 2025 with racketeering conspiracy and various other offenses linked to the gang’s alleged criminal enterprises. Authorities have accused the organization of engaging in a wide array of illicit activities, including violence, extortion, and human trafficking, with operations reportedly extending across North America, South America, and parts of Europe. The State Department had previously offered a reward of up to $5 million for information that would lead to Guerrero Flores’ arrest.
This operation marks the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s intensified campaign against international criminal organizations. Earlier in President Trump’s second term, his administration officially designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization. This designation was followed by an expansion of military and law enforcement operations specifically targeting drug trafficking networks.
President Trump has consistently argued that criminal groups originating from Latin America pose a significant threat to U.S. national security. He has frequently drawn connections between these organizations and violent crimes committed within the United States. In his announcement of the recent operation, President Trump referenced several high-profile crimes involving undocumented migrants, stating that the administration was acting on behalf of victims and their families.
Tren de Aragua's origins trace back more than a decade to a Venezuelan prison. The organization rapidly expanded its reach as millions of Venezuelans migrated throughout the region due to the country's socio-economic challenges. Law enforcement agencies in several nations have attributed numerous kidnappings, extortion schemes, and violent attacks to the organization, according to reports, including one from the Daily Mail. Analysts observe that while the gang has become one of the most recognizable criminal organizations in Latin America, its precise size and internal structure remain challenging to ascertain.
The reported operation aligns with broader efforts by the Trump administration to bolster partnerships with foreign governments in the collective fight against transnational crime and narcotics trafficking. U.S. officials indicated that cooperation with regional allies will continue as authorities strive to dismantle criminal organizations operating across international borders.
