The US and Venezuela collaborated to kill Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, the top leader of the notorious criminal gang Tren de Aragua. US President Donald Trump announced the news on his social media platform, stating that the attack was “swift and lethal”.

Who was Niño Guerrero?

Niño Guerrero was a fugitive for years, with a criminal record stretching back decades. He helped found Tren de Aragua, which has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the US. The gang has expanded its presence in Venezuela and other countries in the region, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile.

The US Department of State offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Guerrero Flores’ capture or conviction. In December 2025, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York charged Guerrero Flores with ordering, directing, and facilitating acts of terrorism within the United States.

Tren de Aragua’s control within Tocorón prison was so absolute that imprisoning Guerrero Flores there was as effective as letting him go. The Venezuelan government took full control of the facility in October 2023, but Guerrero Flores had already vanished.

International Reach

Tren de Aragua maintains a presence in several countries, including Brazil and Costa Rica. Mexican authorities have reported the arrests of alleged leaders and people related to the gang. In 2023, a CNN investigation documented its presence in the United States.

In March 2024, Guerrero Flores’ brother Gerso was arrested in Barcelona, Spain, and extradited to Venezuela a few months later. A little over a year later, Spanish police arrested 13 individuals whom they described as the first known Tren de Aragua cell dismantled in the country.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.