US military kills alleged leader of Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed last week's operation in Venezuela. «The operation underscores the shared commitment of the United States and Venezuela to take the fight to narco-terrorists and deny them any safe haven in our hemisphere,» Hegseth said. Trump stated on Truth Social: «This action was closely coordinated with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well together.» The president did not specify when exactly the attack took place.

The killed leader was known by the name «Niño Guerrero» and had already been indicted in the United States – including for organized crime and providing support for terrorism. The US State Department had offered a reward of up to five million dollars for information leading to his arrest. In the United States, «Tren de Aragua» is designated as a terrorist organization. Trump accuses the gang of smuggling drugs into the US.

Background: Indictment, Reward, and Terror Designation

Trump repeatedly blamed the gang for being the cause of violence and illegal drug trafficking. Contrary to the assessment of US intelligence, Trump also reiterated the claim that «Tren de Aragua» had operated under the control of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is currently being tried in New York on alleged ties to drug trafficking. Maduro is currently on trial in New York.

The background to the current action is a tougher stance by the US government against alleged drug smugglers. The US military has repeatedly attacked suspected drug boats. Maduro himself was captured in a military operation in Venezuela in January by US special forces and brought to New York.

Broader Context of US Military Strikes

The United States had carried out a «swift and lethal» attack on the notorious gang boss, the White House said. Venezuela's Ministry of Information initially did not respond to a request for comment.

The term «kinetic strike» is frequently used by the US military to distinguish a conventional armed attack – such as an airstrike or a missile operation – from purely cyber-enabled or intelligence measures.

Reactions and Open Questions

The German federal government has so far not publicly commented on the US operation. The United Nations and the European Union also did not issue any statements on Saturday.

With the death of «Niño Guerrero,» Tren de Aragua loses its most well-known face, according to observers, but the criminal structure of the gang is not necessarily expected to be dismantled as a result. Experts have warned for years that such organizations frequently have successors.

A statement from the Venezuelan government is expected in the coming days. It also remains unclear whether the detained Maduro, who is on trial in New York, will react in any way to the death of the gang leader.