Two members of the Tren de Aragua gang, Denyeer Aramillo Meneses, 23, and Edison Pena Angulo, 25, were arrested early Wednesday morning in the Bronx during a major drug trafficking and credit card scam bust, officials said. This arrest is the culmination of a months-long investigation into the Venezuelan gang’s narcotics activities and violent crimes, including their involvement in a high-profile apartment invasion in Aurora, Colorado.
The operation, led by the NYPD and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, netted 15 suspected gang members. Sources revealed that Meneses and Angulo were part of a violent group that stormed an Aurora apartment in August, an incident that was captured on camera and drew national attention. The gang was involved in a wide range of illicit activities, including selling heroin, fake weed, and the synthetic drug Tussi, while also engaging in credit card fraud.
During the raid, law enforcement uncovered a stash of weapons, including three assault rifles, two pistols, and an assortment of ammunition. The suspects now face an array of charges, though their federal indictment and specific offenses remain sealed.
In the Aurora case, both Meneses and Angulo have been charged with first-degree burglary and menacing with a firearm. Police believe they were part of a group that broke into several apartments, threatening the occupants just before a fatal shooting took place in the complex.
The gang’s actions have had a lasting impact on Aurora, a city that has witnessed an influx of both Venezuelan migrants and members of the Tren de Aragua gang in recent years. Local residents have reported a growing sense of fear and insecurity, prompting many to relocate from areas overtaken by gang members.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement officials express relief at the significant dent made in the gang’s operations, with some sources stating that the Tren de Aragua’s time in the U.S. is running out.
