Venezuelan gang members arrested in New York amid crime wave

In the United States, two members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua were apprehended in New York City following involvement in an armed invasion in Aurora, Colorado. Denyeer Aramillo Meneses, 23, and Edison Pena Angulo, 25, both recognized from a viral video of the incident, were arrested around 3:30 a.m. by a joint task force from the NYPD and Homeland Security. Their capture was part of a larger operation that netted fifteen suspected gang members after a six-month-long investigation into drug trafficking and violent crimes attributed to the gang. In this instance, both men were linked to a drug ring that sold various narcotics across New York City. The operation included illicit drugs like synthetic marijuana, heroin, and the mixture known as Tussi, which were distributed from the Bronx to Lower Manhattan. Their arrest follows an earlier incident where they were involved; in August, they, along with four other armed men, attempted to invade residences in Aurora, resulting in the death of Oswaldo Jose Dabion Araujo, 25, during the encounter. This incident highlights the gang's increasing influence and the public concern regarding their criminal activities, with local law enforcement issuing warnings about the serious threats posed by these gangs. Authorities have previously linked Tren de Aragua to over 62 robberies in New York City, showing a trend of escalating gang violence and criminality in urban areas. Concerns regarding the gang's expansion have been echoed by community figures and law enforcement, citing it as a growing problem that needs to be closely monitored to ensure public safety.