![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/an-image-from-the-strike-that-reportedly-killed-hector-rusth-KGEB5AGCQ5DWVD62NCIAWENTII.png\")
<\/p>\nPresident Donald Trump said Friday (local time) that a \u201cswift and lethal kinetic\u201d US strike has killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, whom he called \u201cthe infamous leader\u201d of the Tren de Aragua gang.<\/p>\n
Tren de Aragua has been labelled by the United States as a terrorist organisation. Guerrero Flores was charged in a New York federal court with racketeering conspiracy and other crimes, including lending support to terrorists in crimes that stretched more than a decade, authorities announced in December.<\/p>\n
US Attorney Jay Clayton said at the time that the gang is responsible for countless acts of violence, extortion and drug trafficking in North America, South America and Europe. Trump nominated Clayton on Thursday to be director of national intelligence.<\/p>\n
The US State Department had offered rewards of up to US$5 million (NZ$8.5 million) for information leading to Guerrero Flores\u2019 arrest. <\/p>\n
In a post on his social media site, Trump wrote, \u201cTren de Aragua terrorists no longer have safe haven in Venezuela or anywhere else and, under my leadership, we will find these vicious murderers and drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong”. <\/p>\n
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An image from the strike that reportedly killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores. (Source: Associated Press)<\/p>\n
Trump has taken a series of extraordinary actions against the gang, including a series of strikes on small boats his administration has accused of smuggling drugs to America.<\/p>\n
Trump and administration officials have consistently blamed Tren de Aragua for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some US cities. <\/p>\n