Concerns Over Spread of Venezuelan Prison Gang Causing Trouble in Denver Area

Colorado officials confirmed Wednesday that “elements” of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua — also known as TdA — are active in the city of Aurora, but said “reports of TdA influence… have been isolated.”

TdA began as a prison gang in Venezuela and has expanded across the Western Hemisphere. In July, the Biden administration designated the gang a transnational criminal organization, charging it with human smuggling and trafficking, gender-based violence, money laundering, and illegal drug trafficking.

Social media is awash with allegations that the Tren de Aragua gang has taken over an apartment complex in Aurora that the city is closing near Colfax and Peoria. Neither the city nor the Aurora Police Department have confirmed these claims.

Aragua trail in Aurora

Ryan Luby, deputy director of the city’s communications and marketing department, said in a statement Wednesday that the Aurora Police Department, along with other partners, have created a special task force to “specifically address concerns” about TdA and “other criminal activity affecting immigrant communities.”

Luby confirmed that “elements of TdA are active in Aurora.” Police are “continuing to gather evidence to show the gang has ties to crimes in the area.” However, Luby said it “would not be appropriate at this time for the city and APD to make any conclusive statements regarding specific incidents.”

At this time, investigators believe “reports of TdA influence in Aurora are isolated,” Luby said. He concluded his statement by urging crime victims to come forward to law enforcement.

Full statement from the City of Aurora:

“The City and Aurora Police Department, as we have previously stated, have established a special task force in collaboration with other local, state, and federal partners to specifically address concerns about the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) and other criminal activity affecting immigrant communities. We are grateful that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), a valuable federal partner, has recognized their continued work on TdA in the metro area and appreciate the additional resources they are providing to combat this problem.

We are aware that elements of TdA are active in Aurora. APD is gathering more and more evidence to show that the gang has ties to crimes in the area. However, as we have stated previously and as the DEA has also stated, it would be inappropriate at this time for the city and APD to draw conclusions about specific incidents or provide details about law enforcement strategy and operations.

Based on our initial investigative work, we believe that reports of TdA impact in Aurora are isolated. We urge all community members, including members of our immigrant communities, to report crimes committed against them to their local law enforcement agencies and not remain silent victims. Victims of crimes can report crimes anonymously by calling Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867).

As always, information is subject to change as investigations continue at the local, state and federal levels.”

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The Drug Enforcement Administration has partnered with the Aurora Police Department on the special task force and issued its own statement to Denver7 Investigates on Wednesday.

Jonathan Pullen, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, said the DEA’s focus is on organizations that smuggle fentanyl into the country. According to Pullen, DEA agents have seized “multi-kilogram quantities of fentanyl destined for the Denver-Metro area” from TdA members and/or associates in recent months.

Pullen could not confirm details about the gang’s alleged involvement in Aurora, saying it was “not appropriate for the DEA to comment further on the organization’s role or presence in the region given the ongoing, active investigative work being conducted.”

Full statement from the DEA:

“The DEA has prioritized the organizations most responsible for smuggling fentanyl into our communities. In recent months, our agents—working with federal, state, and local partners here in Colorado—have seized multi-kilogram quantities of fentanyl destined for the Denver-Metro area from individuals believed to be members and/or associates of the gang known as Tren de Aragua.

It is not appropriate for DEA to comment further on the organization’s role or presence in the region due to the ongoing, active investigative work conducted by our agents and law enforcement partners. While the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco Cartel remain the primary suppliers of fentanyl, we at DEA continue to target their networks and regularly identify various criminal organizations and gangs throughout the country with whom they collaborate to smuggle their poison.

In determining whether or not an individual is linked to or associated with a particular drug cartel or gang, investigators will use a combination of factors, including statements from the suspect, information from informants, presence of known gang-related tattoos, analysis of telephone records, geographic information, and intelligence. Again, in this case, we cannot discuss the specific factors used to protect our ongoing and active investigative work.”

Unfortunately, we are unable to answer any follow-up questions or provide camera appearances at this time due to the ongoing investigation.”

Aragua Trail in Denver

As for Denver, police confirmed to Denver7 that members of TdA “have ties to crimes in the area.” However, Denver police said they are “not aware of any apartment buildings being taken over by this gang in Denver.”

A police spokesperson said the department is “actively investigating to learn more about the gang, its members and any associated criminal activity so we can respond appropriately – just as we would with any gang or criminal organization.”

Full statement from Denver Police:

“The Denver Police Department takes the presence of Tren de Aragua seriously and protecting the safety of our residents and officers is always our top priority. There are reasons to believe that members of this gang have ties to crimes in the area. However, DPD is not aware of any apartment buildings being “taken over” by this gang in Denver. The Denver Police Department, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, continues to actively investigate to learn more about the gang, its members, and any associated criminal activity so we can respond accordingly – just as we would for any gang or criminal organization.

The community can help with these efforts by submitting tips through Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous, and Denver Police do not ask witnesses or victims of crimes for their immigration status, eliminating a potential barrier to reporting.”

This story was originally published by Sydney Isenberg on Scripps News Denver.