U.S. Strikes Down Notorious Crime Leader
President Donald Trump announced that the United States has successfully eliminated “Niño Guerrero,” a notorious head of the Tren De Aragua crime syndicate.
On Friday evening, he shared a video on his Truth Social platform showing the military operation that resulted in the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores.
“At my direction, the United States Southern Command executed a swift and lethal strike against Niño Guerrero, the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, recognized as one of the most vicious terrorist organizations on the planet,” Trump stated.
Trump criticized the former Biden administration for facilitating record-high illegal crossings at the Southern border, pointing to victims like Jocelyn Nungaray and Laken Reilly who suffered at the hands of criminals entering the U.S.
“Before I returned to office, Joe Biden opened our Southern Border to millions of illegal criminals, allowing this foreign army to inflict harm on American citizens without consequences,” Trump explained.
“During my campaign, I promised to remove these monsters from our country and to deliver justice for the families of those they tortured and killed, including the innocent 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray and 22-year-old Laken Reilly, among many others,” he continued. “With this action, the U.S. military has avenged their suffering and that of their loved ones.”
The president reiterated his campaign promises to label Tren De Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, deport thousands of criminals, and combat cartels that threaten American citizens.
He noted progress in U.S.-Venezuela relations, attributing some of Guerrero’s elimination to collaboration with the South American nation, especially following the ousting of its dictator, Nicolás Maduro, in January.
“This operation was closely coordinated with our allies in Venezuela, with whom we are now working effectively. As a result, Tren De Aragua terrorists no longer find safe havens in Venezuela or elsewhere, and under my leadership, we will hunt down these ruthless murderers and drug lords anytime, anywhere, and deliver them to justice,” concluded Trump.
Venezuelan officials confirmed Guerrero’s death.
“There were confrontations with members of these criminal groups, during which Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias ‘Nino Guerrero,’ was neutralized,” stated the country’s ministry of communications.
The U.S. Southern Command expressed thanks to Venezuela for its support during the operation.
“We appreciate the Venezuelan security forces’ assistance in this successful joint operation against a Tren de Aragua compound that culminated in the death of the narco-terrorist leader Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias ‘Niño Guerrero.’ He was wanted by the U.S. for directing and facilitating acts of terrorism and violence,” stated SOUTHCOM Commander General Francis L. Donovan.
In December, Guerrero faced charges in a New York Federal Court related to racketeering, terrorism support, and drug importation among other offenses.
“As alleged, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores spearheaded Tren de Aragua’s transformation from a prison gang into a transnational terror organization that engaged in violence, extortion, and drug trafficking across North America, South America, and Europe,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “In New York, we have charged over 30 members of Tren de Aragua with federal crimes, and we are committed to dismantling the cartels and gangs that flood our streets with dangerous drugs and foster violence and corruption.”
Venezuelan officials and U.S. Southern Command have acknowledged the significant impact of Guerrero’s elimination on regional crime dynamics.
