Emerging from the shadows of Venezuela’s chaotic streets, a fearsome criminal entity known as ‘Tren de Aragua’ has made its presence known. This gang’s sinister exploits have been splashed across national headlines in the US, due to their involvement in a myriad of crimes. Oddly enough, one of their main operational locations appears to be within residential buildings in the state of Colorado, where they are reported to exert considerable control.
‘Tren de Aragua,’ notwithstanding its conspicuous operations in North America, traces its roots back to the penitentiaries in Venezuela. Over the last ten years, this criminal syndicate has gradually expanded northward from its homeland. However, it has gained more prominence in the US this year, owing to its connections to several high-impact crimes.
Detective work suggests that many of these gang members infiltrated the US via the Mexican border, likely responding to the swell of migration that’s been observed in recent times. In light of this development, the Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP) issued a bulletin in March, providing its agents with information on distinctive tattoos and other identifying marks associated with this gang.
Ahead of this latest development, US federal authorities had already sounded alarms over the gang’s intentions to dig its heels into American soil. More worryingly, there were indications they would possibly ally with the notorious MS-13 gang, another violent street syndicate known for its cruel tactics.
Congressman Tony Gonzales of Texas, in a digital interview with Fox News, mentioned that the ‘Tren de Aragua’ has spread its tendrils of violence throughout Central and South America. The gang’s activities are not limited to just one region and they’re a threat that’s on the radar for numerous global agencies.
In the past few months, New York City has seen a staggering number of robberies – over 62 at the last count – linked to this Venezuelan gang. Worsening the situation, two presumed gang affiliates were recently apprehended for a frightful assault case on two NYPD officers.
In a worrying escalation, the connection between ‘Tren de Aragua’ and horrific murder cases is no longer purely speculative. For instance, the brother of the suspect in Laken Riley’s homicide case, a Georgia student, has ties to this gang. In Texas, as many as ten migrants with connections to the gang were put behind bars as of May.
Colorado, specifically, is seeing a pronounced growth in the gang’s stronghold. It was reported in July that ‘Tren de Aragua’ members in Denver had received explicit permissions to confront or assault law enforcement.
Alarming stories have been circulating about the gang’s aggressive takeover of at least a duo of housing compounds in Aurora, Colorado. One such account includes graphic surveillance footage of heavily-armed men forcibly gaining entry into an apartment.
Addressing this issue on Fox News, Aurora’s mayor revealed ‘several buildings under the same ownership, managed by an out-of-state party, have succumbed to the Venezuelan gang’s control.’ Nevertheless, city authorities downplay the degree of the gang’s influence, often describing it as ‘small’.
Furthermore, media claims about repeated incidents involving the gang have been characterized by the city as inflated reports limited to a few trouble-ridden properties. Despite this, a spokesperson for Aurora Police shared with The Denver Post that it is too early to measure the scale of ‘Tren de Aragua”s activities in the city.
In a public statement, the city described the police’s ongoing efforts to identify these criminals and make arrests. An underlined point in the statement was that the residents in the affected properties are more concerned about their dismal living conditions than a possible gang takeover.
Further complicating this issue, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed recently that four individuals, who were identified as presumed gang members, were arrested in connection with a July shooting incident. These individuals were all illegal immigrants who had earlier been caught and released on the border.
The US government, recognizing the consistent threat the gang poses, took aggressive action when the Treasury labelled ‘Tren de Aragua’ as a ‘significant transnational criminal organization’ in July. This status essentially freezes all property and assets owned by the gang within US territories.
In an attempt to dismantle the group, the State Department has offered a reward of $12 million for information leading to the arrest of three top gang leaders. The government’s increased vetting processes aim to hamper the gang’s operations. Yet, as the recognition and pressure on ‘Tren de Aragua’ increases, the issue has even drawn the attention of former President Donald Trump, who highlighted the gang’s activity in Colorado during a Fox News town hall event.