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Trump says US military strike killed leader of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces killed Niño Guerrero, the leader of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang, in a strike coordinated with Venezuela.
  • The State Department has designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, citing its involvement in drug smuggling, human trafficking, and money laundering.
  • Tren de Aragua is a powerful gang operating across South America and has been linked to various criminal activities, including extortion and kidnapping.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces conducted a "swift and lethal kinetic strike" that killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as Niño Guerrero, the leader of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua. Trump stated on Truth Social that the action was coordinated with Venezuela.

At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Nino Guerrero the infamous leader of Tren De Aragua, one of the most bloodthirsty Terrorist Organizations on Planet.

— Donald TrumpFormer U.S. President announcing the successful strike against the gang leader on Truth Social.

The Pentagon confirmed the strike, with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth posting on X that Guerrero was killed earlier this week. The State Department has designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization, citing its alleged involvement in widespread criminal activities such as illicit drug smuggling, human trafficking, and money laundering.

The Trump administration had previously targeted Guerrero and other Tren de Aragua leaders with sanctions. Trump has asserted that the gang coordinated its U.S. activities with the Venezuelan government under President Nicolás Maduro, a claim used to justify deporting some immigrants to El Salvador. Tren de Aragua is known for its extensive operations across South America, controlling migrant routes and engaging in extortion, kidnapping, contract killings, and smuggling from Panama to Brazil.

This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well.

— Donald TrumpFormer U.S. President detailing the coordination with Venezuelan authorities.

Guerrero had escaped from Venezuela's Tocoron prison in 2023 along with other gang leaders shortly before a police raid. The gang's reach extends throughout the Andean corridor and into other parts of South America, with links to organized retail theft.

Guerrero was confirmed killed during the strike.

— Pete HegsethPentagon chief confirming the death of the gang leader.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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