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. Trump’s statement on Truth Social described the action as a “swift and lethal kinetic strike.” He labeled Tren de Aragua as one of the world’s most “bloodthirsty” terrorist organizations.
The operation aligns with Trump’s campaign promise to combat transnational criminal groups. He aims to seek justice for victims of the gang’s crimes, citing high-profile cases central to his administration’s messaging on immigration and public safety, such as the murder of Laken Reilly. Trump noted the strike received cooperation from Venezuelan authorities. Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon for further details.
Operation Highlights
The statement connected the operation to broader administration policies focused on border security and immigration enforcement. Trump seeks to dismantle criminal cartels and gangs across the Americas. He criticized former President Joe Biden’s border policies, arguing they allowed “Illegal Criminals” to harm Americans. Trump claimed Tren de Aragua no longer has a safe haven in Venezuela and promised continued action against them.
His post included an unclassified video showing a green-roofed building. An object struck the building, which erupted in flames, sending smoke into the sky.
Federal Charges and Indictments
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York previously charged Guerrero Flores with leading Tren de Aragua as a transnational racketeering enterprise. He faces accusations of involvement in drug trafficking, firearms offenses, extortion, and violent crimes. Authorities describe Tren de Aragua as a structured organization that expanded from Venezuela into North and South America and Europe, with local cells under centralized leadership.
The indictment claims Guerrero Flores coordinated with major narcotics networks to transport cocaine from South America into the United States, using smuggling routes through Central America and Mexico. Prosecutors assert the organization controlled territories through 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,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “We have now charged over 30 members or associates of Tren de Aragua with federal crimes, and we are committed to bankrupting the cartels and transnational gangs who flood our streets with deadly drugs and pursue death, violence, and corruption as a way of life. This is what New Yorkers want, and it is what they deserve.”