Venezuela's most notorious gang boss killed in US strike, claims Trump

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that United States forces had killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, the leader of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua. Trump said the operation was carried out by the United States Southern Command and described it as a joint effort with Venezuelan authorities. Venezuelan officials later confirmed that Flores was killed during clashes with criminal groups in the southeastern state of Bolivar.

In a statement posted on social media, Trump said the operation was conducted at his direction and resulted in the death of the gang leader. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the strike had taken place earlier in the week and targeted a Tren de Aragua site in Venezuela. He said the operation reflected cooperation between the United States and Venezuela against criminal and narcotics-related organizations.

Tren de Aragua originated from a prison in Venezuela's Aragua state and expanded into a transnational criminal network involved in drug trafficking and other illegal activities. According to available information, the organization has approximately 7,000 members operating across South America and the United States. The group was designated a terrorist organization by the United States in February 2025. Several other countries, including Ecuador, Argentina, Peru, Canada, and Trinidad and Tobago, have also designated the group as a terrorist organization.

Flores, 42, escaped from Tocoron prison in Venezuela in 2023 along with other gang leaders before a security operation at the facility. In December, he was charged in absentia in a New York court on allegations including racketeering conspiracy and providing support to terrorism-related activities. US authorities have linked him to the expansion and operations of Tren de Aragua over several years.

The announcement comes amid broader US actions targeting the organization. Washington has previously stated that a series of operations in the Pacific and Caribbean regions were directed against the gang. The Trump administration has also cited alleged links to Tren de Aragua in immigration and law enforcement actions. Authorities in both countries have indicated that investigations and security operations related to the organization remain ongoing.