Mayor of city where armed Venezuelan gangs have taken over apartments speaks out

Mayor Mike Coffman of Aurora, Colorado, spoke to America Reports on Thursday after surveillance footage of armed Venezuelan gang members in an apartment complex went viral on the Internet.

Coffman confirmed that at least two apartment buildings within the city limits have been taken over by Venezuelan gangs.

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The mayor also admitted on the air that “Cookie Monster,” a gang leader from Tren de Aragua, “has been arrested.”

“This is an organized criminal effort. Whether it’s a trend, a drug war, that remains to be seen,” Coffman said.

The mayor’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on Tren de Aragua’s organized crime activities in the Aurora area.

Former Congressman and current Mayor of Aurora, Colorado Mike Coffman was a guest on America Reports on Thursday to update the public on the Venezuelan gangs in his city. (Larry French/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

“So there are multiple buildings that are actually under the same ownership, outside of government ownership, that have fallen into the hands of these Venezuelan gangs. I’m trying to push back and do the investigation into how there is a concentration of Venezuelans in these, these three buildings,” Coffman said.

“Somebody put them there and somebody funded it, whether it’s the federal government or not, we’re trying to figure out who, these gangs apparently, or are attracted to where there’s a concentration of Venezuelan migrants. And so they basically forced the property management out through intimidation and then collected the rent,” he added.

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An anonymous former resident of one of the apartment buildings confirmed to Fox News Digital on Wednesday that members of Tren de Aragua collected rent from residents in at least one overcrowded complex.

Mayor Coffman claims the city of Aurora is a “victim” of federal policy and the sanctuary city policy of nearby Denver.

“(This is) not our problem, federal problem or issue. They have to solve it. We don’t. But somehow we got sucked into this,” Coffman said.

Suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang have taken over an apartment building in Aurora, Colorado, and are demanding rent in exchange for “protection.” (Edward Romero)

“I think we are the victims of failed policies at the southern border because what you have, I, Venezuelan, according to my law enforcement, do not cooperate, Venezuela does not cooperate with the United States in sharing criminal records. You have a third of the country leaving,” Coffman said.

“You’ve had these massive waves of migrants crossing the border, many of whom crossed the border illegally, were arrested, asked for political asylum, were not adequately screened, were released into the country, into the city of Aurora. We’ve done everything we can to keep them out of the city, quite frankly, because this is not our problem. This is a federal problem,” the mayor asserted.

According to a resident, the apartment building has been completely overrun by the alleged gang members. The locks have also been changed. (Councillor Danielle Jurinsky)

An Aurora mother went viral for her video in which she claimed she no longer feels safe taking her children to public parks in the area due to the presence of Venezuelan gangs.

“This is scary. And I understand they come here for a better life, but at the same time, is this life better if you take what was here?” she asked.

Aurora police have not issued any new statements on the situation since their social media post via X on Wednesday, calling the situation “isolated.”

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Coffman served as a Republican congressman for Colorado’s 6th District from 2009 to 2019.