The US and Venezuela collaborated to kill Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as ‘Niño Guerrero’, the top leader of the notorious gang Tren de Aragua, which the US designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

Background on Niño Guerrero

Niño Guerrero was a fugitive for years, with a criminal record stretching back decades. He was born in the city of Maracay, capital of the Venezuelan state of Aragua, in 1983. His criminal record began in 2005, when he was arrested for the murder of an official.

Tren de Aragua, under Guerrero Flores’ leadership, expanded its presence in Venezuela and reached other countries in the region, including Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile. The gang also allegedly crossed the Atlantic, with a presence in the United States.

US Designation as Foreign Terrorist Organization

In March 2024, then-US President Joe Biden designated Tren de Aragua as a major transnational criminal organization. Later, President Trump signed an executive order designating the gang as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

The US government offered a reward of $5 million 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.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.