Donald Trump has announced that US forces have killed the leader of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang in what he described as a "swift and lethal" military strike.
The US President said Southern Command had successfully targeted Niño Guerrero, the founder and leader of the Venezuelan criminal organisation.
Tren de Aragua has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organisation by the US State Department and has been linked to drug trafficking, human smuggling and violent crime across the Americas.
Announcing the operation on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump hailed the strike as a major victory in his administration's crackdown on transnational gangs and organised crime.
"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," he wrote.
The President said the operation delivered justice for victims of violent crime and their families.
"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 Riley, and countless other beautiful souls," he said.
Mr Trump added that the US military "has brought retribution for them, their families, and their loved ones".
Mr Trump hailed the strike as a major victory in his administration's crackdown on transnational gangs and organised crime
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The President also pointed to his decision earlier in his second term to designate Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation.
"Early in my Administration, I delivered on my promise to designate Tren de Aragua as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, deport thousands of evil criminals, and wage war against the Cartels, who have long been waging war against our Citizens, while weak leaders left America helpless and defensive," he wrote.
Mr Trump also revealed the operation had been carried out with the help of Venezuelan authorities.
"This action was coordinated closely with our friends in Venezuela, with whom we are working very well," he continued.
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The US President said Southern Command had successfully targeted Niño Guerrero
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"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 drug lords anytime, anyplace, and send them to the depths of hell where they belong."
The White House has not yet released further details about the operation, including where the strike took place or whether any other gang members were killed.
Prior to the strike, Guerrero was facing federal charges in the United States for allegedly providing material support to terrorism and leading a vast transnational criminal enterprise.
The fugitive had become one of America's most wanted criminals as Washington intensified its efforts to dismantle Tren de Aragua's operations across the Western Hemisphere.
Alongside the announcement, Mr Trump shared footage of the strike which took out the crime boss on social media
|TRUTH SOCIAL / DONALD J TRUMP
US authorities had also imposed sanctions on Guerrero and several of his senior associates, accusing the organisation of involvement in drug trafficking, human smuggling, money laundering, extortion and violent crime.
Following the unsealing of federal charges against him last year, US Attorney Jay Clayton described Guerrero as the "mastermind of Tren de Aragua's evolution from a Venezuelan prison gang into a transnational terrorist organization".
The State Department had previously offered a reward of up to $5million for information leading to Guerrero's arrest or conviction.
Alongside the announcement, Mr Trump shared footage of the strike which took out the crime boss on social media.
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