**Title: Trump Announces US Strike Kills Tren de Aragua Gang Leader with Venezuelan Cooperation**
**Date: June 13, 2026**
In a significant development in the ongoing battle against organized crime in Latin America, President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces have successfully executed a strike that resulted in the death of Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, commonly known as 'Nino Guerrero,' the leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The announcement was made via a post on Trump's Truth Social platform late on June 12, 2026.
According to Trump, the operation was carried out at his direction by the United States Southern Command. He described Guerrero as an "infamous leader" of a gang that has been designated by the U.S. government as a global "terrorist" organization and a drug-smuggling cartel. The strike reportedly took place in an unspecified location within Venezuela, and Trump stated that the operation was conducted in collaboration with the Venezuelan government.
In a statement confirming their involvement, the Venezuelan government indicated that Guerrero was killed during clashes with members of rival criminal groups in the southeastern state of Bolivar. The U.S. Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, further elaborated on the operation in a post on social media platform X, noting that the strike targeted a specific Tren de Aragua site in Venezuela and emphasizing the shared commitment between the U.S. and Venezuela to combat narco-terrorism.
Tren de Aragua, which has its origins in a notorious prison in the Venezuelan state of Aragua, has grown into a formidable criminal organization with an estimated 7,000 members operating across South America and the United States. The group was designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government in February 2025, a move that aligned with the Trump administration's broader strategy to address drug trafficking and organized crime.
Guerrero, aged 42, had a history of criminal activity and had escaped from the Tocoron prison in 2023, shortly before a police raid on the facility. He was charged in absentia in a New York court in December 2025 for racketeering conspiracy, supporting terrorism, and other serious offenses. The U.S. has previously conducted strikes targeting small vessels linked to the gang in the Pacific and Caribbean regions, resulting in numerous casualties, which included claims from family members of victims who identified them as fishermen.
The Trump administration has also pointed to alleged connections between Tren de Aragua and the Venezuelan government, asserting that the gang operates under the protection of President Nicolás Maduro. This assertion has been part of a broader narrative that has included controversial actions such as the reported kidnapping of Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores by U.S. troops in January 2026, who now face federal drug charges.
As the situation continues to evolve, the implications of this strike and the ongoing cooperation between the U.S. and Venezuela in combating organized crime remain to be seen. The operation marks a notable moment in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in relation to its approach to Venezuela and the broader issues of drug trafficking and terrorism in the region.