Tren de Aragua Leader ‘Niño Guerrero’ Killed in Venezuela

Tren de Aragua leader Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias “Niño Guerrero,” has been killed during joint operations between the United States and Venezuela, according to statements made by United States President Donald Trump, as well as both governments.

A video released by the Trump administration on the night of June 12 shows a house being blown apart in what Venezuelan authorities later described as a kinetic strike in southeastern Bolívar state.

Guerrero was one of the region’s most wanted fugitives and the focus of an Interpol red notice and a $5 million US bounty. 

SEE ALSO: Tren de Aragua Profile

The announcement of his death came days after the Venezuelan government deployed military forces to the Orinoco Mining Arc (Arco Minero del Orinoco – AMO), particularly in the mining hub of Las Claritas. Las Claritas is the criminal stronghold of the Las Claritas Syndicate, led by Yohan Romero, alias “Johan Petrica,” a co-founder of Tren de Aragua.

The strike targeting Guerrero this week may have occurred on Tuesday, June 9, the first day of military operations in Bolívar. On that day, witnesses recorded a column of dark smoke caused by a single explosion at the Brisas del Kuyuni mine in Las Claritas, where the syndicate allegedly maintained an operational base. 

SEE ALSO: Niño Guerrero’s Criminal Profile

Statements declaring the death of Niño Guerrero came from both Trump and the Venezuelan government. Authorities have not reported—nor is there any available information regarding—the possible capture or deaths of other leaders of the Las Claritas Syndicate, including Petrica and local commanders known as Juancho and Humbertico.

Who Was Niño Guerrero?

Niño Guerrero began his criminal career in the early 2000s, starting off in drug dealing, theft, and attacks on police officers. After being linked to the murder of a police officer in 2005, he was arrested and eventually imprisoned in Tocorón prison, where he transformed himself from a local criminal into the head of a vast criminal enterprise.

Guerrero turned the prison into Tren de Aragua’s operational headquarters. Under his leadership, the group expanded throughout Venezuela and into Colombia, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, and Bolivia. The organization also diversified into extortion, kidnapping, drug trafficking, contract killings, migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal mining. At its peak, Guerrero controlled a lavish prison compound complete with private housing, restaurants, a swimming pool, and other amenities.

In September 2023, Venezuelan authorities stormed Tocorón with more than 11,000 security personnel, but Guerrero escaped before the operation.

InSight Crime reported in 2025 that members of Tren de Aragua, including Niño Guerrero himself, had sought refuge in the mining area after security forces seized the prison.

The Future of Tren de Aragua?

There is still no information regarding the status of Petrica, who is lined up to become the top leader of Tren de Aragua. Numerous sources have long maintained that Petrica was the group’s true strategic mastermind.

Tren de Aragua has steadily lost cohesion since the takeover of Tocorón in 2023. Regional cells have increasingly operated beyond the leadership’s control, with many becoming fragmented and more autonomous. This development could serve as a catalyst for a deeper split among Tren de Aragua’s various factions.

There are also implications for US-Venezuelan relations, which appear to be deepening. In his statement about the death of Guerrero on Truth Social, Trump said, “This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well. As a result, Tren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else.” 

SEE ALSO: Trump Has Merged the War on Gangs and Immigration. Tennessee Shows How

Trump has used the gang as a pretext for sweeping actions against undocumented migrants in the US. But InSight Crime has reported there is little evidence that Tren de Aragua has a significant presence in the United States.