Authorities in Aurora, Colorado, arrested ten members of the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal organization primarily made up of illegal immigrants from Venezuela. The arrests follow viral surveillance footage that showed armed gang members taking control of an apartment complex, forcing residents to pay rent, and occupying empty units.
Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman and Council Member Danielle Jurinsky worked with the Aurora Police Department (APD) to address the growing threat posed by the gang. According to police, eight of the ten arrested individuals have been confirmed as gang members. Two of the suspects were involved in a shooting incident in July at a property long plagued by gang activity.
The Tren de Aragua gang, originally formed in Venezuela’s prison system, has become increasingly violent, with charges against the members including child abuse, illegal firearm discharge, and attempted first-degree murder. Local law enforcement had been tracking the group since an attack at Whispering Pines apartments in November 2023.
A joint task force has been formed to combat the gang’s influence. It includes local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, working together to dismantle the gang’s network in Aurora and surrounding areas like Arapahoe County and Denver.
Gov. Jared Polis (D-CO) initially dismissed early warnings about the gang’s activity, but the arrests underscore the serious threat the gang poses to community safety.
