U.S. President Donald Trump announced the death of Hector Rothenford Guerrero Flores, known as El Niño Guerrero, the leader of the "Train de Aragua" gang, in what he described as a "swift and decisive" military operation carried out by the U.S. Southern Command inside Venezuelan territory.
In a post on the Truth Social platform, Trump confirmed that the operation came in implementation of his campaign promises related to the prosecution of the gang members and its designation as a foreign terrorist organization, stressing that the US military has "achieved justice" for the victims of crimes attributed to the organization.
Venezuela confirms details of clashes
Venezuela's Ministry of Communications confirmed Guerrero's death during a joint operation aimed at dismantling organized crime infrastructure in the south of the country.
It explained that the participating forces have clashed with elements of criminal groups in a mineral-rich area near the borders with Brazil and Guyana, an area that has been witnessing intense illegal mining activity and the control of mineral extraction operations by armed groups.
The announcement of the operation revealed an advanced level of security coordination between Washington and Caracas, with Trump noting that the United States is working with Venezuelan authorities "very well."
The latest security cooperation is an extension of a rapprochement that began in recent months, after the two countries resumed diplomatic relations and Washington began steps to reopen its embassy in Caracas, in parallel with the gradual easing of some sanctions imposed on Venezuela.
Guerrero is the mastermind of the gang
El Niño Guerrero was the central figure in transforming the train de Aragua from a gang that grew up inside Venezuelan prisons into a transnational criminal network.
U.S. and Venezuelan authorities accuse the organization of involvement in human trafficking, murder, kidnapping, extortion and drug trafficking, as well as running activities related to illegal mining and controlling certain businesses.
Security reports revealed that during his time in Tocorón prison, Guerrero established an unprecedented system of influence within the penal institution.
The prison was reportedly transformed into a center for the management of criminal activities, and included recreational facilities that included a zoo, a swimming pool, a playground, a restaurant and a nightclub, reflecting the extent of the gang's influence within Venezuela.
Washington continues its campaign against the gang
In recent months, the Trump administration has continued its campaign against Train de Aragoa through successive military and security measures targeting its associated drug trafficking networks.
The US administration holds the gang responsible for some of the violence and organized crime in American cities, while Trump has vowed to continue to pursue its members and drug dealers wherever they are, stressing that the group's elements "no longer have any safe haven."
The "Train de Aragua" gang was founded inside the Tocorón prison in the Venezuelan state of Aragua, before gradually becoming one of the most dangerous criminal networks in Latin America.
Within a few years, it was able to expand its activity to several countries in the region, taking advantage of smuggling networks and irregular migration, to become a major focus of US security policies related to combating organized crime and illegal immigration.
The U.S. State Department has offered a reward of $5 million for information leading to his arrest.
In 2025, a New York court charged Hector Rothenford Guerrero Flores, 42, and 69 others allegedly affiliated with the train de Aragua, with ordering, directing and facilitating acts of terrorism and violence in the United States.
Who is Guerrero?
Guerrero Flores was the mastermind behind the development of the Trinde de Aragua gang, which transformed from a Venezuelan prison gang into a transnational terrorist organization.
U.S. and Venezuelan authorities accuse the organization of human trafficking, murder, kidnapping, theft, drug trafficking, extortion and even illegal mining.
It is credited with extending its influence over a number of legitimate business activities that operate openly and have an official presence in the market.
In September 2023, Maduro's government said it had "completely dismantled" the "Train de Aragua" gang after the military regained control of the gang-controlled Tocorón prison.
According to a 2025 report by the Crime Analysis Center (Insight), Niño Guerrero played a pivotal role in making the gang "what it is today" during his time in Tocorón.
According to the report, under Guerrero's leadership, Tocorón prison has become one of the most associated prisons for crime and chaos in the country.
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