US President Donald Trump announced that a "swift and lethal kinetic" strike has killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, whom he called "the infamous leader" of the Tren de Aragua gang. The gang has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States.
Details of the Strike
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth posted on X that the strike occurred earlier in the week on a Tren de Aragua compound in Venezuela. The operation underscores the shared US and Venezuelan commitment to combat narco-terrorists, Hegseth said.
Venezuela's government confirmed its participation, stating that clashes occurred in the southeastern state of Bolivar, resulting in Guerrero Flores' death. The mineral-rich state borders Brazil and Guyana and is known for illegal mining operations controlled by gangs.
Background on Guerrero Flores
Guerrero Flores, also known by his alias "Niño Guerrero," was charged in a New York federal court last year with racketeering conspiracy and supporting terrorism. The US State Department had offered rewards of up to $5 million for his capture.
Trump wrote on his social media platform: "Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else. Under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong."
US Actions Against the Gang
Trump has taken extraordinary actions against Tren de Aragua, including strikes on small boats accused of smuggling drugs. At least 207 people have been killed in such strikes since early September. The gang has been blamed for violence and drug dealing in US cities.
Trump repeatedly claimed, despite a declassified intelligence assessment, that the gang operated under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's control. Maduro was whisked out of Venezuela to face US drug charges in January.
Origins and Expansion
Tren de Aragua originated over a decade ago at a lawless prison in Venezuela's central state of Aragua. Guerrero Flores returned to the prison in 2013 and, with other inmates, took control, transforming it into a facility with a zoo, baseball field, casino, and restaurants.
The gang expanded as millions of Venezuelans migrated to other countries. Unlike other criminal organizations, Tren de Aragua is not heavily involved in international cocaine smuggling, according to InSight Crime.
