Donald Trump has announced that the United States military carried out a “swift and lethal kinetic strike” targeting and killing Venezuelan gang leader Niño Guerrero, a figure long associated with the notorious transnational criminal network Tren de Aragua.

In a statement shared on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, June 13, 2026, Trump said the operation was executed by the US Southern Command and described the target as “one of the most bloodthirsty terrorist leaders on the planet”, accusing the group of orchestrating violent crimes across the Americas.

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

According to Trump, the operation was conducted as part of a broader counter-cartel and counter-terror strategy that his administration says is aimed at dismantling transnational criminal networks operating across Latin America and the United States border region.

He claimed the strike was coordinated with partners in Venezuela and formed part of a wider campaign to eliminate what he described as cartel influence and criminal safe havens.

Trump further linked the mission to his administration’s earlier designation of Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organisation, saying the group had been responsible for violent crimes, including killings and assaults in the United States, allegations that have frequently been cited in US political debates over migration and border security.

“Early in my Administration, I delivered on my promise to designate Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, deport thousands of evil criminals, and wage war against the Cartels, who have long been waging war against our Citizens, while weak leaders left America helpless and defensive,” he stated.

“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 and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drugs lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong.”

Who is Niño Guerrero?

Niño Guerrero is widely described in security and intelligence reporting as a leading figure associated with Tren de Aragua, a violent criminal organisation that originated inside Venezuela’s prison system and later expanded into a cross-border syndicate involved in extortion, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and violent robbery networks.

He is believed to have risen through the ranks of the gang while it was based in Tocorón prison in Venezuela, which authorities later moved to dismantle during a major crackdown on organised crime infrastructure.

Following the Venezuelan government’s 2023 operation to retake control of the facility, Guerrero reportedly became one of the most wanted fugitives linked to the group, although his exact whereabouts had remained uncertain in subsequent years.

The U.S. State Department had offered a $5 million (approximately Ksh647 million) reward for his capture, while federal courts in New York indicted him on racketeering and material support to terrorism charges.

Over time, Tren de Aragua has been linked by multiple governments in the region to rising organised crime activity, particularly in parts of South America where migrant trafficking routes and urban gang networks overlap.

Claims, coordination and unanswered questions

Trump’s announcement did not include operational details such as the exact location of the strike, casualty verification, or independent confirmation of Guerrero’s death. No official independent assessment from Venezuelan authorities or international monitoring bodies has yet been publicly released.

The claim that the operation was coordinated with Venezuelan authorities also adds diplomatic complexity, given the historically strained relations between Washington and Caracas.

Trump’s remarks come amid an intensified US political and security focus on transnational criminal organisations, particularly those operating across the Caribbean, Central America, and South American migration routes.

His administration has repeatedly framed groups like Tren de Aragua as hybrid threats, blending organised crime with insurgent-style violence, warranting military-style responses rather than traditional law enforcement approaches.

Maduro capture

The development comes months after the US military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026, in a surprise raid.

President Donald Trump ordered troops to seize Maduro and his wife, bringing them to a Manhattan court to face allegations of weapons and drug offences, which they denied.

The US accused Maduro and other members of his government of leading a criminal organisation involved in activities such as illegal mining and drug trafficking.