A pair of Tren de Aragua gang members linked to a violent Aurora, Colorado apartment invasion were apprehended in a significant drug trafficking and credit card fraud bust in New York City on Wednesday. The operation also resulted in the seizure of a cache of deadly assault rifles, as reported by The Post.
23-year-old Denyeer Aramillo Meneses and 25-year-old Edison Pena Angulo were arrested during an early-morning raid in the Bronx conducted by a gang task force led by the NYPD and US Homeland Security Investigation, according to sources in law enforcement.
A total of 15 suspected members of the Venezuelan migrant gang were taken into custody following an extensive investigation into narcotics trafficking and gang-related violence, the sources revealed.
One law enforcement source expressed frustration, stating, “Enough already with these guys. [TDA’s] time is up.”
Meneses and Angulo were allegedly part of a group of armed bandits who were involved in an apartment invasion in Aurora, Colorado, in August, which was captured on video and gained national attention, sources added.
Authorities in Aurora issued warrants for the arrest of Meneses and Angulo on October 1, according to a report by 9 News in Denver.
However, the suspects managed to make their way to New York City where they were apprehended around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
The raid was the culmination of a six-month investigation into violent gang activities, ultimately uncovering a drug ring operating from the Bronx to lower Manhattan.
The gang was involved in selling various drugs, including heroin, synthetic drugs, and also engaged in credit card fraud and acts of violence, according to sources.
During the raid, law enforcement officers discovered a collection of semi-automatic weapons, including assault rifles, pistols, and ammunition cans filled with cartridges, sources disclosed.
The specific charges faced by the Tren de Aragua suspects remain unknown as their federal indictment and the offenses are currently sealed.
In the Aurora case, both Meneses and Angulo have been charged with first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm, as reported by ABC affiliate Denver 7.
According to police, the suspects, along with four other armed individuals, were captured on video at an apartment complex in Aurora, just before a fatal shooting incident involving 25-year-old Oswaldo Jose Dabion Araujo.
Five of the men were carrying handguns, while one had a rifle, and they forcibly entered the apartments, threatening the occupants, as per law enforcement officials.
The shocking video surfaced after The Post identified Jhonardy Jose Pacheco-Chirino, a Venezuelan prison gang member involved in violent activities in another apartment complex in Aurora, which was overrun by the gang.
The building was eventually shut down due to code violations, with the owners citing the gang’s influence over the property in court documents obtained by The Post.
Residents expressed fear and discomfort due to the gang presence, with some being forced to relocate from the area.
Cindy Romero, a resident, shared her experience, stating, “It’s been a nightmare and I can’t wait to get out of here,” as she and her husband, Edward, moved out of the building.
She described the security measures they had to take daily due to safety concerns caused by the gang’s activities.
