Joint US and Venezuelan operation kills leader of Tren de Aragua; VIDEO

Trump says that the US attacked the leader of the criminal group Tren de Aragua
A joint operation between the United States and Venezuela resulted in the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as Niño Guerrero, identified as leader of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua, according to the governments of both countries this Friday (12).
The information was initially released by US President Donald Trump, who stated that the action was led by the South American Command and published a video that, according to him, shows the moment of the attack (see above).
Shortly afterwards, the Venezuelan government confirmed that it participated in the operation, carried out in the southeast of the state of Bolívar, and reported that Guerrero was "neutralized" during clashes with members of criminal groups.
With confirmation from Caracas that the action took place in Venezuelan territory, the operation now represents the first ground attack by the current American administration against a target linked to organized crime in America Latina.
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"The operation had specialized technological support and was developed through mechanisms of cooperation and exchange of intelligence information between the authorities of both countries", says the Venezuelan statement (see below).
Trump had last year declared the Tren de Aragua a terrorist organization.
"This action was closely coordinated with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well", said Trump, implying that the action reportedly took place on Venezuelan territory.
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The White House, the Pentagon and the US Southern Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"On my orders, the United States Southern Command carried out a rapid and lethal kinetic attack to successfully execute Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of the Tren de Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty terrorist organizations on the planet", Trump wrote on his social network, a Truth Social.
Over the past year, the Trump administration has ordered attacks on vessels believed to be serving drugs to the US in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific. Part of these, according to the Southern Command, would belong to the Tren de Aragua.
In October, Trump even stated that the country was in "armed conflict" with Venezuelan gangs.
Trump gives a press interview in the Oval Office of the White House.
Reuters/Daniel Heuer
Who was Niño Guerrero and the Tren de Aragua
"Niño" was considered the main leader of the Aragua Train. His name appeared in indictments brought by federal prosecutors in New York, which held him responsible for crimes such as criminal association, extortion, drug trafficking and weapons trafficking.
The US State Department was offering a reward of US$5 million for information leading to his arrest or conviction. He was also the target of American sanctions in July 2025, along with other members of the organization.
In December, federal prosecutors announced charges against 70 members of the gang, including Guerrero.
Tren de Aragua emerged in 2014 in the Tocorón prison, in the Venezuelan state of Aragua, and expanded its activities to several countries in Latin America.
The group is accused of involvement in extortion, contract killings, drug trafficking, human trafficking, prostitution and illegal mining.
After militarily occupying the Tocorón prison, in September 2023, the government of Nicolás Maduro claimed to have "completely dismantled" the organization. At the time, however, Niño Guerrero was already considered a fugitive.
Trump and members of his government have consistently blamed the Tren de Aragua for the violence and drug trafficking that plague some American cities.
The president spent months repeating the claim - debunked by a declassified American intelligence assessment - that the Tren de Aragua operated under the control of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The US extradited Maduro from Venezuela in January so he could face drug trafficking charges.
Trump posts video of American attack in Venezuela against Tren de Aragua leader
Reproduction/Social media

Source: G1