U.S. Eliminates Alleged Leader of Venezuelan Criminal Group

President Donald Trump announced a U.S. Southern Command military strike that killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Niño Guerrero.” He was the alleged leader of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua.

In a statement on Truth Social, Trump described the operation as a “swift and lethal kinetic strike.” He labeled Tren de Aragua among the world’s most “bloodthirsty” terrorist groups. He stated that this action fulfilled a campaign promise to combat transnational criminal organizations and bring justice to victims. Trump referenced several high-profile cases tied to his administration’s immigration and public safety policies, including the murder of Laken Reilly. The strike was conducted with cooperation from Venezuelan authorities. Newsweek sought further information from the Pentagon on Friday night.

Key Points

The statement linked the operation to broader policies on border security, immigration enforcement, and dismantling criminal groups across the Americas. Trump critiqued former President Joe Biden’s border policies, arguing they allowed “Illegal Criminals” to harm Americans. He claimed Tren de Aragua no longer has a safe haven in Venezuela and vowed ongoing actions against the group.

Trump shared an unclassified video showing a building with a green roof being struck and engulfed in flames, producing a smoke cloud.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York had previously charged Guerrero Flores in a federal indictment, describing him as the leader of Tren de Aragua, a transnational racketeering enterprise. Prosecutors accused him of orchestrating various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, firearm offenses, extortion, and violence. Authorities described Tren de Aragua as a structured organization that expanded beyond Venezuela into North and South America and Europe, operating under centralized leadership.

The indictment further claimed that Guerrero Flores and his associates coordinated with major drug networks to smuggle cocaine from South America into the U.S., using routes through Central America and Mexico. Prosecutors stated the organization maintained control over territories and financed operations with violence, intimidation, and corruption.

“As alleged, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores has been the mastermind of Tren de Aragua’s evolution from a Venezuelan prison gang into a transnational terrorist organization,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said. “In the Southern District of New York, we have charged over 30 members or associates of Tren de Aragua with federal crimes. We are committed to dismantling the cartels and transnational gangs that flood our streets with deadly drugs,” he added. “This is what New Yorkers want, and it is what they deserve.”