Niño Guerrero, Leader Of ‘Bloodthirsty’ Terror Outfit Tren de Aragua, Killed In US Strike: Trump

Last Updated:June 13, 2026, 08:13 IST

The United States has designated Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organisation. Its leader, Guerrero Flores, has been charged with racketeering conspiracy and several other offences.

President Donald Trump on Friday said a “swift and lethal kinetic" US strike had killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, whom he described as “the infamous leader" of the Tren de Aragua gang.

The United States has designated Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organisation. In December, US authorities announced that Guerrero Flores had been charged in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy and several other offences, including providing support to terrorists in criminal activities that allegedly spanned more than a decade.

At the time, US Attorney Jay Clayton said the gang was responsible for “countless acts of violence, extortion and drug trafficking" across North America, South America and Europe. Trump nominated Clayton on Thursday to serve as director of national intelligence.

The US State Department had also offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Guerrero Flores’ arrest.

Announcing the killing of Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet Earth."

“Early in my Administration, I delivered on my promise to designate Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, deport thousands of evil criminals, and wage war against the Cartels, who have long been waging war against our Citizens, while weak leaders left America helpless and defensive. This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well. As a result, Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have a safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong," the US president added.

In his social media post, Trump referred to Guerrero Flores by his alias “Nino Guerrero."

The Pentagon did not provide any additional details beyond President Donald Trump’s post on Truth Social.

Trump and senior administration officials have repeatedly accused Tren de Aragua of driving violence and illegal drug trafficking in several US cities. The president also spent months asserting that the gang operated under the control of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a claim that was contradicted by a declassified US intelligence assessment. Maduro was taken out of Venezuela by the United States in January to face drug-related charges in a US court.

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Prisha Vibhavari

Prisha is the Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than 10 years of experience in national and international news. She specialises in editorial leadership, sharp news judgment, and high-impact st...Read More

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