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US military kills Venezuelan cartel leader in 'swift and lethal strike'
🇩🇪 Germany /Crime & Justice

US military kills Venezuelan cartel leader in 'swift and lethal strike'

From Die Zeit · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The U.S. military killed the leader of the Venezuelan drug cartel Tren de Aragua in a swift and lethal strike, according to U.S. President Trump.
  • Venezuela confirmed the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, stating he was killed during an operation with the United States.
  • The Tren de Aragua is described as one of the bloodiest terrorist organizations, involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and human trafficking across the region.

The U.S. military has killed the leader of the Venezuelan drug cartel Tren de Aragua, identified as Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the "swift and lethal strike" carried out by the U.S. Southern Command, which is responsible for Latin America.

a swift and lethal strike

— Donald TrumpDescribing the U.S. military operation that killed the cartel leader.

Trump described Tren de Aragua as "one of the bloodiest terrorist organizations on this planet." Venezuela's Ministry of Communication confirmed Guerrero Flores' death, stating that "structures of organized crime" were dismantled in the country's south during an operation with the United States.

one of the bloodiest terrorist organizations on this planet

— Donald TrumpCharacterizing the Tren de Aragua cartel.

Under the Trump administration, the U.S. government designated the gang and other Latin American organized crime groups as foreign terrorist organizations. Tren de Aragua is implicated in drug trafficking, extortion, and human trafficking, with its operations extending to other countries in the region. The U.S. Justice Department had indicted Guerrero Flores in absentia in December and offered a $5 million reward for his capture.

structures of organized crime

— Venezuelan Ministry of CommunicationDescribing the targets dismantled during the operation with the U.S.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Zeit in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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