**Trump Announces Elimination of Tren de Aragua Gang Leader**
**By Nathan Rennolds**
**Published on 13/06/2026 - 7:35 GMT+2**
In a significant development in the fight against transnational crime, US President Donald Trump announced that American forces successfully conducted an operation to eliminate Hector Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Tren de Aragua gang. This announcement comes in the wake of the gang being designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States in February 2025.
In a post on his platform, Truth Social, Trump described the Tren de Aragua gang as "one of the most bloodthirsty terrorist organizations on planet Earth." He detailed that the operation was executed by the United States Southern Command, which he referred to as a "swift and lethal kinetic strike." The operation reportedly targeted a compound associated with the gang in Venezuela, where Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, was believed to be located.
The strike was confirmed by Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of War, who stated that the operation was conducted in full collaboration with Venezuelan security forces. This partnership highlights a growing trend of international cooperation in combating organized crime and terrorism.
The Tren de Aragua gang, which has its origins in Venezuela's Tocorón Prison, is described by the US National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) as a transnational criminal network with an estimated membership ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 individuals. The gang is notorious for its involvement in a variety of criminal activities, including kidnappings, extortion, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and public displays of violence.
Hector Guerrero Flores was previously indicted in December in a Manhattan federal court on charges related to terrorism and violence in the United States. The US State Department had placed a bounty of up to $5 million for information leading to his arrest, underscoring the perceived threat he posed. US Attorney Jay Clayton characterized Flores as the "mastermind" behind the gang's expansive operations, which have reportedly included money laundering through cryptocurrency, large-scale drug trafficking, arms sales, and orchestrating acts of terror across borders.
The elimination of Flores is seen as a strategic move in the ongoing efforts to dismantle the Tren de Aragua gang and curb its influence in both Venezuela and the wider region. The gang's activities have raised significant concerns for law enforcement agencies in the United States and Latin America, prompting a coordinated response to address the challenges posed by such transnational criminal organizations.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how this operation will impact the operations of the Tren de Aragua gang and the broader landscape of organized crime in Latin America. The US government has indicated that it will continue to pursue aggressive measures against groups that threaten national and regional security.
This operation marks a notable moment in the ongoing conflict against organized crime, reflecting the complexities of international law enforcement collaboration and the challenges posed by powerful criminal networks.