U.S. Military Strike Kills Tren de Aragua Leader Niño Guerrero in Coordinated Operation with Venezuela

Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump announced on June 12, 2026, that U.S. Southern Command conducted a successful “swift and lethal kinetic strike” that killed Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, better known as “Niño Guerrero,” the longtime leader of the Venezuelan transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua.

Trump described the operation, which was closely coordinated with the Venezuelan government, as a major blow to one of the most violent criminal networks operating across the Western Hemisphere. “At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet Earth,” the president wrote on Truth Social, accompanied by video footage of the strike.

Guerrero Flores, who rose to power while incarcerated in Venezuela’s Tocorón prison, transformed Tren de Aragua from a local prison gang into a sophisticated transnational syndicate involved in drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, sex trafficking, contract killings, and money laundering. The group expanded rapidly amid Venezuela’s economic collapse and migration crisis, establishing cells across Latin America and into the United States. The U.S. designated Tren de Aragua a Foreign Terrorist Organization in early 2025, and the State Department offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Guerrero’s capture.

The gang has been linked to high-profile crimes in the U.S., including the murders of Jocelyn Nungaray in Houston and Laken Riley in Georgia, as well as numerous incidents of violent crime, gang activity, and exploitation of migrants. Federal indictments have charged Guerrero and associates with racketeering, terrorism support, and drug trafficking in coordination with elements of the Venezuelan regime.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the strike occurred earlier in the week on a Tren de Aragua compound, praising the precision and coordination with Venezuelan forces following the U.S. intervention that removed Nicolás Maduro earlier in 2026. The operation reflects the Trump administration’s aggressive posture against transnational criminal organizations designated as terrorists, treating them with the same intensity as foreign terrorist groups.

Tren de Aragua’s expansion has strained law enforcement resources across multiple countries, with the gang known for brutal tactics, including the use of military-grade weapons and control over migrant routes. The elimination of its top leader is expected to disrupt command and control, though officials caution that remaining lieutenants may attempt to fill the vacuum.

Trump hailed the strike as a victory for American and regional security, vowing continued operations against cartel and gang leadership wherever they operate. The action comes as part of a broader campaign that includes mass deportations of criminal illegal aliens and enhanced border security measures.

This targeted strike underscores the administration’s commitment to dismantling criminal networks that threaten U.S. citizens and allies, delivering a significant blow to one of the most notorious emerging threats from the region. Further details on the operation and its impact on Tren de Aragua’s remaining structure are expected in coming days.