Trump says U.S. military killed Tren de Aragua leader Hector Guerrero

President Donald Trump said Friday night that the U.S. Southern Command carried out a strike that killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, the leader of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.

The State Department had offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the 43-year-old Venezuelan.

"Before I returned to office, Joe Biden opened our Southern Border to millions of Illegal Criminals, and allowed this foreign army to rape, maim, and murder American Citizens with total impunity," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "During my Campaign, I pledged to expel these monsters from our Country, and bring Justice to the families of those they slaughtered, including the precious 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, 22-year-old Laken Reilly, and countless other beautiful souls."

Trump said the strike brought retribution for the victims and their families. He said the administration had designated Tren de Aragua a Foreign Terrorist Organization, deported thousands of its members and waged war on cartels.

"This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well," Trump wrote. "As a result, 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."

Tren de Aragua began as a prison gang in Venezuela's Aragua state. Authorities said Guerrero expanded its reach while held at the Tocorón prison by extorting inmates and bribing guards. The group later took control of the prison, gold mines in Bolivar state, drug routes along the Caribbean coast and some clandestine crossings into Colombia.