{"id":2333563,"date":"2024-08-29T14:04:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T18:04:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-is-tren-de-aragua-the-venezuelan-gang-running-amok-in-colorado-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-29T14:07:47","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T18:07:47","slug":"what-is-tren-de-aragua-the-venezuelan-gang-running-amok-in-colorado-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-is-tren-de-aragua-the-venezuelan-gang-running-amok-in-colorado-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang running amok in Colorado? &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhat-is-tren-de-aragua-the-venezuelan-gang-running-amok-in-colorado-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2333563&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Tren de Aragua is Venezuela&#8217;s largest criminal gang, \u2063currently gaining notoriety \u200din Colorado and\u200d drawing national attention due to its\u200b violent activities. Initially \u200cformed \u200cin prison,\u200d Tren de Aragua has expanded its operations\u2063 across Latin America, establishing dominance in \u200ccertain areas and often supplanting government authority. The \u200cgang&#8217;s leader, H\u00e9ctor \u200d&#8221;El Ni\u00f1o&#8221; Guerrero\u2062 Flores, escaped during a military raid in 2023 \u200band is \u2064still sought after by the U.S. government, which is offering a reward for\u200b information about his location.<\/p>\n<p>With ties to over 100 crimes in the U.S., including human trafficking,\u2062 extortion, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/man-pleads-guilty-to-murder-in-2021-hit-and-run-spree-that-killed-steakhouse-chef\/\" title=\"Man admits to murder in 2021 hit-and-run spree that claimed steakhouse chef&#039;s life.\">drug-related\u200d offenses<\/a>, \u2064the gang&#8217;s influence is notably\u200c felt in Aurora, Colorado, where armed members have\u2062 reportedly\u2063 been seen patrolling residential\u2064 areas. The rise of Tren de Aragua in the U.S. is linked to the economic collapse in Venezuela, prompting the gang to \u200bseek new opportunities abroad amidst a burgeoning refugee crisis. Despite\u200c the Aurora Police Department\u200b stating that reports of the gang&#8217;s \u2064activities \u2063are isolated, community concerns \u2063remain high as residents report visible displays of gang presence and activity.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">What is Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang running amok in Colorado?<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1716802\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/venezuela\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Venezuela\">Venezuela<\/a>&lsquo;s largest criminal gang, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3078061\/us-deems-venezuelan-gang-criminal-organization\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Tren de Aragua\">Tren de Aragua<\/a>, is wreaking havoc in Colorado, driving national attention.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The group revolutionized crime in Venezuela and across Latin America, in the words of author <a href=\"https:\/\/editorialdahbar.com\/libros\/preventa-el-tren-de-aragua-la-megabanda-que-revoluciono-el-crimen-organizado-en-america-latina\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Ronna Risquez\">Ronna Risquez<\/a>, running the country from prisons and extending its reach across the Western Hemisphere. In several areas, the gang has taken complete control, usurping government authority.<\/p>\n<p>One unique feature of the group is its origins as a prison gang &mdash; the entire gang was run out of the Tocoron prison, which, prior to its storming by the Venezuelan army in 2023, had been turned into a luxury palace replete with swimming pools, a baseball field, and a zoo. Before the raids, more than half of the country&rsquo;s prisons were controlled by gangs, the <em>New York Times<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n<p>The leader of Tren de Aragua, H&eacute;ctor &ldquo;El Ni&ntilde;o&rdquo; Guerrero Flores, escaped the prison before the storming and is still on the loose. The Department of State and the Department of Justice are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/up-to-12-million-in-reward-offers-for-information-leading-to-arrests-and-or-convictions-of-three-leaders-of-the-tren-de-aragua-transnational-criminal-organization\/#:~:text=Over%20the%20past%20six%20years,America%20and%20the%20United%20States.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"offering\">offering<\/a> up to $5 million for information regarding his whereabouts. He is believed to reside somewhere in Colombia.<\/p>\n<p>While in prison, Guerrero Flores extended the gang&rsquo;s reach across the continent, recently <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3041174\/violent-venezuelan-gang-tren-de-aragua\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>expanding<\/a> into North America and the United States.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>New York Post<\/em> reported that the gang has been linked to more than 100 crimes across the U.S. Among the litany of crimes the group is known for are human trafficking, sex trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, drug dealing, murder, money laundering, contract killings, smuggling, and other types of theft.<\/p>\n<p>One of the group&rsquo;s tentacles extended to Aurora, Colorado, where the gang is making its presence known.<\/p>\n<p>A security video from a neighbor showed a group of gang members with rifles walking around an apartment.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">NEW VIDEO armed group at troubled <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/aurora?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#aurora<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/colorado?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#colorado<\/a> apartment complex now home to many migrants. Councilmember <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DaniJurinsky?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@DaniJurinsky<\/a> says gangs have taken over the complex <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KDVR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@KDVR<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AuroraPD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@AuroraPD<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/J1uie8Y2M6\">pic.twitter.com\/J1uie8Y2M6<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Vicente Arenas (@vicentearenastv) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/vicentearenastv\/status\/1828912965023568356?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;This is organized. They patrol the property with guns visibly, like they&rsquo;re not trying to hide them. There&rsquo;s no repercussion. These are ghosts,&rdquo; one Aurora resident <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/video-shows-armed-gang-troubled-colorado-apartment-building-believed-have-been-taken-over-migrants\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>told<\/a> Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p>Part of the reason for Tren de Aragua&rsquo;s expansion into the U.S. is the deteriorating conditions in Venezuela. The collapse of the economy has so impoverished the country that the gangs are forced to search for opportunities elsewhere, according to the Venezuelan Violence Observatory.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Crime is falling in Venezuela because of the destruction of the country&rsquo;s economy &hellip; because of the loss of opportunities for crime,&rdquo; OVV Director Roberto Brice&ntilde;o-Le&oacute;n <a href=\"https:\/\/insightcrime.org\/news\/venezuela-crime-rate-falling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"told\">told<\/a> InSight Crime.<\/p>\n<p>The gang has taken advantage of the resulting refugee crisis, infiltrating the migrants to extend their reach to the surrounding countries and, more recently, the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the documented instances of Tren de Aragua&rsquo;s presence in Aurora, the Aurora Police Department insists that reports are isolated.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Based on our initial investigative work, we believe reports of TdA influence in Aurora are isolated,&rdquo; a statement from the department read. &ldquo;We urge all community members, including members of our migrant communities, to please report crimes committed against them to their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-votes-on-major-security-upgrade-will-fine-members-5k-for-bypassing-metal-detectors\/\" title=\"House Votes On Major Security Upgrade, Will Fine Members K For Bypassing Metal Detectors\">local law enforcement agencies<\/a> and not remain silent victims.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">UPDATE: The city and Aurora Police Department, as previously stated, established a special task force in collaboration with other local, state and federal partners to specifically address concerns about Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/south-american-gang-allegedly-takes-over-colorado-apartment-building-citys-response-sparks-anger\/\" title=\"South American Gang Allegedly Takes Over Colorado Apartment Building - City&#039;s Response Sparks Anger\">criminal activity affecting&#038;hellip<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ytAhIcBxy0\">pic.twitter.com\/ytAhIcBxy0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AuroraPD\/status\/1828943029882716310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 28, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The group has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/3041174\/violent-venezuelan-gang-tren-de-aragua\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"taken advantage\">taken advantage<\/a> of the border crisis, using the chaos to send members into the U.S. It gained headlines after two of its reported members, illegal immigrants, allegedly murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley while on a jog in February.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1716802\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1716802\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What is Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan gang causing chaos in Colorado? Tren de Aragua, Venezuela&#8217;s largest criminal organization, is making headlines for its disruptive activities in Colorado. This gang has transformed crime in Venezuela and throughout Latin America, as noted by author Ronna Risquez, effectively governing from within prisons and expanding its influence across the Western Hemisphere. In various regions, they have completely seized control, undermining government authority. A notable aspect of this gang is its origins as a prison group; it was managed from Tocoron prison, which had been converted into a luxurious facility with amenities like swimming pools and a zoo before being stormed by the Venezuelan army in 2023. Prior to these raids, gangs controlled over half of Venezuela&#8217;s prisons according to reports from the New York Times. The leader of Tren de Aragua, H\u00e9ctor \u201cEl Ni\u00f1o\u201d Guerrero Flores, escaped before the military operation and remains at large; both the Department of State and Department of Justice are offering up to $5 million for information on his location\u2014he is believed to be hiding somewhere in Colombia. While incarcerated, Guerrero Flores expanded the gang\u2019s operations throughout South America and recently into North America and the U.S., with reports linking them to over 100 crimes nationwide. Their criminal activities include human trafficking, sex trafficking, extortion, kidnapping, drug dealing, murder, money laundering, contract killings, smuggling among others. One branch of their operations has reached Aurora Colorado where their presence has become evident; security footage captured armed members patrolling an apartment complex known for housing many migrants.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is organized crime,\u201d remarked one resident who observed armed individuals openly carrying weapons without fear of consequences. The expansion of Tren de Aragua into U.S territory can be attributed to worsening conditions in Venezuela; economic collapse has driven gangs to seek opportunities abroad according to insights from the Venezuelan Violence Observatory (OVV). OVV Director Roberto Brice\u00f1o-Le\u00f3n stated that crime rates are declining within Venezuela due to economic devastation leading to fewer opportunities for illegal activities.<\/p>\n<p>The gang exploits ongoing refugee crises by infiltrating migrant communities as they extend their reach into neighboring countries and now into the U.S.. Despite evidence suggesting Tren de Aragua\u2019s activity in Aurora , local police maintain that such reports are isolated incidents urging community members\u2014including migrants\u2014to report any crimes committed against them rather than remain silent victims.<\/p>\n<p>In response to concerns regarding Tren de Aragua\u2019s influence along with other criminal activities affecting Aurora , city officials alongside police have formed a special task force collaborating with local,state,and federal partners . The group also capitalizes on border chaos allowing members entry into America gaining notoriety after two alleged members murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley while she was jogging back in February<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2653,"featured_media":2333564,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/FEA.Gang7-073124.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[39670,36394,39668,39669,32076],"class_list":["post-2333563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-colorado-crime","tag-organized-crime","tag-tren-de-aragua","tag-venezuelan-gang","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/FEA.Gang7-073124.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2333563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2653"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2333563"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2333563\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2333564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2333563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2333563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2333563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}