MIAMI, CARACAS – General Francis Donovan, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, has publicly thanked Venezuelan authorities, particularly acting President Delcy Rodríguez, for their cooperation in a joint operation that resulted in the death of Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, better known as “Niño Guerrero,” the alleged leader of the transnational criminal organization Tren de Aragua.
According to statements released by U.S. and Venezuelan officials, the operation took place in the mining region of Bolívar State in southeastern Venezuela. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that U.S. Southern Command forces conducted what he described as a “swift and lethal” strike in coordination with Venezuelan authorities. Venezuelan officials likewise confirmed a joint operation against organized crime structures in the region.
Niño Guerrero had been one of the most wanted criminal figures in Latin America since escaping from Tocorón prison in 2023. U.S. authorities accused him of overseeing a criminal network involved in drug trafficking, human smuggling, extortion, money laundering, and violent crimes across multiple countries in the Americas. The United States had previously designated Tren de Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization and offered a reward for information leading to his capture.
The operation is being viewed as another sign of growing security cooperation between Washington and Caracas following major political changes in Venezuela earlier this year. General Donovan previously visited Caracas and met with Venezuelan officials, including Delcy Rodríguez, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello to discuss regional security and stabilization efforts.
While reports and commentary circulating on social media have alleged past links between Niño Guerrero and senior Venezuelan political figures, no court has established such relationships, and authorities have not presented evidence in the operation's aftermath to substantiate those claims. Therefore, those allegations remain unproven. The confirmed facts are that both the United States and Venezuela acknowledged cooperating in the operation that led to Guerrero’s death and that officials from both governments publicly praised the coordination effort.
The killing of Niño Guerrero is considered a significant blow to Tren de Aragua, which expanded from a Venezuelan prison gang into one of the most influential criminal organizations in the Western Hemisphere. However, security analysts have warned that the group’s international structure may continue operating despite the loss of its founder and longtime leader.