The United States Southern Command carried out one in Venezuela that resulted in the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, known as Niño Guerrero. The action took place on Friday (June 12, 2026) in Venezuelan territory and was coordinated by authorities in the country.
The Pentagon official, Patrick Weaver, stated this Saturday (June 13, 2026) on his X account that Niño Guerrero’s death “sends a clear message to Latin America” about the president’s government’s commitment to fighting drug trafficking.
Tren De Aragua was the consequence of a weak Biden Administration, preying on open borders to bring narco terrorism into the American heartland.
President Trump promised retribution for the murder of Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray, and the scourge of Aurora, Colorado. The War…
— Patrick Weaver (@PatrickWeaverPA)
Guerrero commanded Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization classified as a terrorist group by the United States.
Washington and Caracas made the joint announcement on Friday night. Donald Trump confirmed the action on his social network and published a 10-second video with aerial images of a building during an explosion. The US president classified the attack as “fast and lethal” and stated that Guerrero was killed during a confrontation with members of armed groups.
Tren de Aragua was founded in Venezuela and expanded its operations to other countries in Latin America. The faction operates in Colombia, Peru, Chile and Brazil. Investigations indicate that the organization is mainly established in Roraima, in the border region with Venezuela.
Last year, Trump intensified actions against the Tren de Aragua, with operations including attacks against vessels suspected of participating in drug trafficking routes in the Caribbean and the Pacific. The president and members of his government frequently associate the organization with the increase in violence and drug trafficking in the United States.
WHO WAS A WARRIOR CHILD?
Guerrero was sent to Tocorón prison in 2010 for crimes including drug trafficking, murder and robbery. He escaped from prison in 2012 and became one of the most wanted criminals in Venezuela. He was recaptured in 2013 and returned to the same unit.
In February 2018, he was formally sentenced to 17 years in prison, but did not serve the entire sentence.
Even behind bars, Niño Guerrero continued to head the Tren de Aragua and drove the expansion of the faction, making it one of the largest criminal organizations in Latin America.
In December 2025, Donald Trump’s administration formally charged Guerrero in Manhattan federal court. The charges included crimes such as racketeering conspiracy (racketeering), terrorism, drug importation and firearms-related crimes. The US Department of Justice was offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to his capture.
