President Donald Trump said a U.S. military strike carried out in coordination with Venezuelan authorities killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as “Niño Guerrero,” the leader of the Tren de Aragua criminal organization.
Trump announced the operation on Friday, describing it as a “swift and lethal kinetic” strike conducted by U.S. Southern Command.
The operation took place earlier this week in Venezuela’s southeastern state of Bolivar, according to statements from both U.S. and Venezuelan officials.
The United States has designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization and had offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero’s arrest.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strike targeted a Tren de Aragua compound and confirmed Guerrero was killed during the operation.
Trump said the action was coordinated closely with Venezuelan authorities.
Venezuela’s government confirmed its participation, stating that clashes occurred with members of criminal groups during the operation and that Guerrero was killed.
According to Venezuela’s information ministry, the mission involved intelligence-sharing and specialized technological support between both countries.
Guerrero had been the target of U.S. sanctions and criminal charges linked to alleged racketeering, drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering and support for terrorist activities.
He escaped from Venezuela’s Tocorón prison ahead of a major police raid in 2023 and had remained a central figure in the organization’s operations.
The strike marks the latest move in the Trump administration’s campaign against Tren de Aragua and other groups it describes as narcoterrorist organizations.
Trump said the group would no longer have safe haven in Venezuela and pledged continued action against its members.
The administration has previously cited alleged links between Tren de Aragua and the Venezuelan government while using the gang’s activities to justify broader security and immigration measures.
Tren de Aragua originated in Venezuela more than a decade ago and expanded across Latin America as millions of Venezuelans migrated abroad.
Authorities in several countries have linked the organization to extortion, kidnapping, human trafficking, contract killings, money laundering, smuggling and other criminal activities.
The group has also been accused of controlling migrant routes across parts of South America and maintaining criminal networks stretching from Panama to Brazil and beyond.