Trump announced a US strike that killed Tren de Aragua kingpin Niño Guerrero
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President Donald Trump on Friday night announced the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) “delivered a quick and deadly strike” to successfully kill Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, the “unknown” leader of the Tren de Aragua (TdA).
The US State Department previously issued a reward of up to $5 million for the arrest or conviction of the 43-year-old Venezuelan.
“Before I returned to office, Joe Biden opened our Southern Border to millions of illegal criminals, and allowed this foreign army to rape, maim and kill American citizens with impunity,” Trump wrote in a statement on Truth Social. “During my Campaign, I promised to drive these monsters from our Country, and bring justice to the families of those who killed them, including 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, 22-year-old Laken Reilly, and countless other good souls.”
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Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, was wanted by the US State Department. (US Department of State)
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The president said that for Friday’s action, American soldiers “brought vengeance for themselves, their families and their loved ones.”
“At the beginning of my administration, I announced my promise to designate the Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, deport thousands of bad criminals, and fight the Cartels, which have long been at war with our citizens, while weak leaders leave America helpless and on the defensive,” Trump wrote.
A new video released on Friday shows a US military strike against former Tren de Aragua leader Niño Guerrero. (President Donald Trump via Truth Social)
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“This action is closely coordinated with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we work very well,” he continued. “As a result, the terrorists of Tren de Aragua no longer have a safe place in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these brutal killers and drug lords whenever, wherever, and send them to the depths of hell where they can be.”
TdA, which was a prison-based gang in Venezuela’s Aragua state, has grown into an international criminal organization led by Flores, according to the State Department. The group has since been designated by the US as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Guards escort inmates allegedly linked to organized crime at the CECOT prison in Tecoluca, El Salvador. (Government of Salvador via Getty Images, File)
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Authorities said Guerrero spent years in prison at Tocorón Prison in Aragua State of Venezuela and expanded the gang’s influence by defrauding inmates and bribing guards.
The gang later took control of the Tocorón prison, gold mines in Bolivar State, drug corridors on the Caribbean coast and other secret border crossings between Venezuela and Colombia.
