Niño Guerrero, Leader Of ‘Bloodthirsty’ Terror Outfit Tren de Aragua, Killed In US Strike: Trump
Niño Guerrero, Leader Of ‘Bloodthirsty’ Terror Outfit Tren de Aragua, Killed In US Strike: Trump Published By, Last Updated: June 13, 2026, 08:24 IST The
Niño Guerrero, Leader Of ‘Bloodthirsty’ Terror Outfit Tren de Aragua, Killed In US Strike: Trump Published By, Last Updated: June 13, 2026, 08:24 IST The United States has designated Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organisation. Its leader, Guerrero Flores, has been charged with racketeering conspiracy and several other offences. Rapid Read File image of Tren de Aragua Leader Niño Guerrero and US President Donald Trump. (Source: X/Reuters) President Donald Trump on Friday said a “swift and lethal kinetic" US strike had killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, whom he described as “the infamous leader" of the Tren de Aragua gang. The United States has designated Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organisation. In December, US authorities announced that Guerrero Flores had been charged in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy and several other offences, including providing support to terrorists in criminal activities that allegedly spanned more than a decade. At the time, US Attorney Jay Clayton said the gang was responsible for “countless acts of violence, extortion and drug trafficking" across North America, South America and Europe. Trump nominated Clayton on Thursday to serve as director of national intelligence. The US State Department had also offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero Flores’ arrest. Announcing the killing of Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “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." “Early in my Administration, I delivered on my promise to designate Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, deport thousands of evil criminals, and wage war against the Cartels, who have long been waging war against our Citizens, while weak leaders left America helpless and defensive.
This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well. As a result, Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have a safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, 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," the US president added. Also Read: ‘Discombobulator’: Trump Names US Secret Weapon Used In Maduro Raid, Says ‘Can’t Talk About It’ In his social media post, Trump referred to Guerrero Flores by his alias “Nino Guerrero." The Pentagon did not provide any additional details beyond President Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social. Earlier this week, the @DeptofWar — in full collaboration with Venezuelan security forces — conducted a kinetic strike on a Tren de Aragua (TdA) compound in Venezuela. TdA founder & leader Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, aka “Niño Guerrero," was confirmed killed during the…— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) June 13, 2026 Trump and senior administration officials have repeatedly accused Tren de Aragua of driving violence and illegal drug trafficking in several US cities. The president also spent months asserting that the gang operated under the control of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a claim that was contradicted by a declassified US intelligence assessment. Maduro was taken out of Venezuela by the United States in January to face drug-related charges in a US court.
All About Tren de Aragua Tren de Aragua emerged more than a decade ago from an infamously lawless prison in Venezuela’s central Aragua state and has since evolved into a transnational criminal organisation with a presence across several Latin American countries. Its expansion coincided with the migration of millions of Venezuelans to other parts of the region and the United States in search of better economic opportunities. While the exact size of the organisation remains unclear, authorities in countries including Peru and Colombia have linked the group to multiple violent crimes. According to InSight Crime, however, the gang does not have a major role in large-scale international cocaine smuggling, unlike several other criminal organisations operating in Colombia, Central America and Brazil. The organisation has been associated with human trafficking and is accused of controlling migration routes used by Venezuelan and other South American migrants travelling to Chile and other destinations in South America and Europe. Law enforcement agencies in the region have also linked the group to extortion, kidnapping, money laundering, contract killings, smuggling and organised retail theft across countries stretching from Panama to Brazil and along the Andean corridor. Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as “Niño Guerrero," escaped from Tocorón prison along with other gang leaders ahead of a major security operation carried out by Venezuelan authorities in 2023. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Prisha Vibhavari Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news.
She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st... Read More Location: Washington D.C., United States of America (USA) First Published: June 13, 2026, 08:13 IST News world Niño Guerrero, Leader Of ‘Bloodthirsty’ Terror Outfit Tren de Aragua, Killed In US Strike: Trump Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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