US President Donald Trump announced on June 12, local time, that the South American Command had carried out a "fast and deadly attack" to "successfully destroy" Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, nicknamed Nino Guerrero. This mission was "closely coordinated" by the US with the Venezuelan government.
President Donald Trump's social media post includes a video showing fire hitting a building, causing the building to catch fire fiercely.
The Tren de Aragua terrorists have no safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else. And under my leadership, we will find these brutal killers and drug lords anytime, anywhere, and then send them to hell where they belong" - Mr. Trump wrote.
Guerrero Flores, 43, was prosecuted late last year in a federal court in New York, USA, on charges including extortion, plotting to provide material support to terrorists and plotting to trade cocaine. The US State Department has offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest of this person.
Guerrero Flores ran Tren de Aragua for over a decade, helping to develop from a prison gang in Venezuela to a transnational organization present throughout the Americas, including the United States.
The indictment of US federal prosecutors accused him of leading a criminal organization of drug trafficking, human trafficking, extortion of local people and committing acts of violence.
Prosecutors accused Guerrero Flores of initially running Tren de Aragua from Tocoron prison, directing gang members outside and collecting fees from their activities.
Guerrero Flores entered and exited Tocorón prison for many years, escaping in 2012 and being recaptured a year later. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2018, but escaped again in 2023 and has been on the run since then.
There is information that Guerrero Flores used to live "like a king" for a time in prison. Guerrero Flores occupies a whole floor, with bodyguards protecting it. The prison has a swimming pool, zoo and nightclub.
