Trump Says U.S. Carried Out Deadly Strike on Tren de Aragua Leader

President Donald Trump said on Saturday that U.S. forces carried out a deadly strike against Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as “Nino Guerrero,” the leader of the Venezuelan crime group Tren de Aragua. Trump described Guerrero as one of the most dangerous organized crime figures in Latin America and said the operation targeted him directly.

No further details were released about where the strike took place, how it was carried out, or the circumstances of the killing. The White House, the Pentagon and U.S. Southern Command did not issue a formal response or confirm the president’s claim.

Tren de Aragua began as a prison gang in Venezuela and has grown into a transnational criminal organization active in several countries in South and Central America. It has been linked to human trafficking, migrant smuggling, extortion, kidnappings, drug trafficking and money laundering.

Guerrero has long been considered the gang’s central figure and one of Venezuela’s most wanted criminals. Authorities in different countries have blamed him for helping expand the group beyond Venezuela and turning it into a regional threat. The group has also drawn increased attention from U.S. security agencies as its activity spread into the United States. If confirmed, the strike would be a major blow, though experts say its longer-term impact will depend on who succeeds Guerrero and how much of the command structure remains.