President Donald Trump announced Friday night that the leader of the Venezuelan criminal organization Tren de Aragua had been killed in a U.S. military operation.
In a statement posted on social media, Trump said the strike was carried out under his direct authorization and targeted Héctor “Niño” Guerrero, the alleged head of the transnational gang.
“At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully eliminate Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren de Aragua,” Trump wrote.
Tren de Aragua, which originated in Venezuela, has expanded its operations across several countries in Latin America and has been linked to crimes including human trafficking, extortion, drug trafficking and organized violence.
The president described Guerrero as one of the most dangerous criminal figures in the region and said the operation represented a significant blow to the organization’s leadership structure.
Details regarding the location of the strike, the intelligence that led to the operation and whether other individuals were targeted were not immediately released.
The U.S. military had not publicly provided additional information following the president’s announcement, and Venezuelan authorities had not immediately commented on the claim.
If confirmed, Guerrero’s death would mark one of the most significant actions taken against Tren de Aragua, a group that has become a growing security concern for governments across the Americas.
Officials are expected to provide further details about the operation in the coming days.
