Published June 14, 2026
In a rare turn of events, the United States (U.S.) and Venezuelan forces conducted a joint operation against Tren de Aragua gang members on Friday, June 13.
According to the U.S. President Donald Trump, the dangerous gang leader, Rusthenford Guerrero Flore also known as Nino Guerrero, was killed in a strike closely coordinated with Venezuelan authorities.
In a post on Truth Social, the 79-year-old Republican president wrote, “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.”
He shared a video of the strike, which showed a projectile hitting the alleged hideout of the gang leader.
The 47th POTUS shared that the U.S. has built a strong relationship with “friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well.”
The now-dead gang leader was accused of drug smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering, material support to terrorism and directing a criminal enterprise.
The United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Venezuelans also confirmed the news of the killing of Nino Guerrero in a combined operation.
CBS News reported that Guerrero had led the gang for more than a decade.