U.S. Strike Eliminates Tren de Aragua Leader Hector Guerrero Flores

The United States conducted a “quick and lethal” strike resulting in the death of Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, described as the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang. This announcement was made by President Donald Trump, highlighting the U.S. classification of the Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization.

Charged in a New York federal court, Guerrero Flores faced accusations of racketeering and providing support to terrorists over more than a decade. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton pointed out the gang’s involvement in violence, extortion, and drug trafficking across North America, South America, and Europe. President Trump has expressed his intention to nominate Clayton as Director of National Intelligence.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared on social media that the strike took place at a Tren de Aragua compound in Venezuela, and Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed Guerrero Flores’ death in an operation involving U.S. and Venezuelan security agencies in the southwest state of Bolivar.

“During the operation, skirmishes with criminal elements led to the neutralization of Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as ‘Niño Guerrero’, head of the criminal organization,”

stated a release from the Ministry of Communication and Information. The operation was backed by specialized technology and intelligence cooperation between the two countries.

Incentives for information leading to Guerrero Flores’ arrest had reached up to $5 million offered by the U.S. State Department. In his post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized, “The terrorists of Tren de Aragua will find no safe haven, under my leadership they will be pursued until expelled to where they belong.”

The mentioned operation emphasized the joint U.S. and Venezuela commitment to combat narcoterrorists and deny them refuge. However, the Venezuelan Ministry of Communications did not respond to inquiries about the operation.

Trump’s administration has launched notable moves against the gang, targeting boats identified as part of drug trafficking routes into the U.S. Over 207 casualties occurred in operations on these vessels since September 2025, part of the broader crackdown on “narcoterrorists.” The administration consistently attributes violence and drug trafficking in various U.S. cities to the Tren de Aragua, once purportedly linked with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who faced charges after being detained by U.S. forces in January.

Originating from an notorious Venezuelan prison over a decade ago, the Tren de Aragua gang expanded as Venezuelan migration surged due to the economic decline. Guerrero Flores, imprisoned for murder in 2013, exploited the prison system’s neglect, taking control. This prison became a mini-city, boasting a zoo, a baseball field, a casino, and eateries.

While the true size of the gang is unknown, countries like Peru and Colombia with significant Venezuelan migrant populations attribute a violence surge to them. Contrastingly, unlike other regional crime syndicates, Tren de Aragua’s cocaine smuggling role is less pronounced, as noted by InSight Crime.

Trump campaigned for a second term, pledging tougher stances on immigration and crime. Though his approval has waned due to economic management, immigration remains a focal strength according to the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Associated Press journalists Regina García Cano in Mexico City and Jorge Rueda in Caracas contributed to this report.