The US Army, along with Venezuela, killed Hector Guerrero, the leader of the ‘Tren de Aragua’ gang. There was a reward of 5 million dollars on him. This gang was an international criminal network that dealt in drugs and human trafficking.
Washington: America has killed the leader of a Venezuelan criminal gang. This gang has been declared a terrorist organization by America. Trump said in a post on social media that the US Army carried out this operation in collaboration with the Venezuelan Army. The US Army has killed Hector Rustenford Guerrero Flores alias ‘Ninyo Guerrero’, the leader of ‘Tren de Aragua’ gang, by attacking an intelligence base in Venezuela. This person had transformed a small Venezuelan gang into an international criminal network that spread terror across the world. America had also placed a reward of 5 million dollars on Guerrero’s head.
Trump told on his social media platform ‘Truth Social’ that he was killed by the US military in a deadly airstrike. Trump also shared a video, in which a building with a green roof is seen collapsing. Later US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told ‘X’ that the attack was carried out in collaboration with Venezuelan security forces.
This ‘Tren de Aragua’ gang started from Tocoron prison in Aragua state of Venezuela. There was a time when this gang had complete control over the jail. The gang members had even built a swimming pool and restaurant inside the jail. In October 2023, the Venezuelan government took back control of the prison, but by then Guerrero had escaped from there.
This gang, known as TDA, had spread terror not only in Venezuela but also in countries like Bolivia, Colombia, Chile and Peru. Later this drug mafia spread to America and Spain. When Guerrero’s brother was arrested in Spain in March 2024, the gang’s Spanish connection was revealed. This gang mainly committed crimes targeting human trafficking and migrants. However, American investigation revealed that this gang was also involved in activities like drug smuggling, extortion, kidnapping and money laundering.
After coming to power for the second term, Trump had declared ‘Tren de Aragua’ a terrorist organization. Last September, the US Defense Department began attacking drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific. More than 200 people were killed in these attacks. Last December, the CIA carried out a drone attack on a building at a port in Venezuela. It was told that the ‘Tren de Aragua’ gang was using this hideout for drug smuggling.