Federal agents arrest 40 undocumented individuals linked to Venezuelan gang in Colorado

In an early morning operation on January 28, 2025, federal authorities targeted a pop-up nightclub near Denver, Colorado, aimed at disrupting the operations of the Venezuelan Tren De Aragua gang. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) had been monitoring members of the gang in Colorado since the previous summer, which led to executing a search warrant at an invitation-only party near West 66th Avenue and North Federal Boulevard. During the raid, a total of 49 individuals were present, with 40 of them being undocumented immigrants from various countries including Venezuela, El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, Cuba, and Italy. The DEA reported seizing firearms along with small quantities of cocaine and crack cocaine. Special Agent Jonathan Pullen noted that while many individuals were apprehended, he believed there were still more members associated with the gang who had evaded arrest. It was indicated that most of those detained carried criminal records both in the U.S. and their home countries, underscoring the ongoing issues with gang violence and illegal immigration in the region. In a separate but related incident, Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, a 26-year-old gang member wanted on felony charges, was apprehended in New York City. Zambrano-Pacheco was implicated in a robbery incident that occurred in August 2024, where a doorbell camera recorded him and five others brandishing firearms. His arrest highlighted the collaborative efforts undertaken by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to address gang violence and illegal immigration. Furthermore, recent developments have led to the initiation of Operation Safe Haven by the Aurora Police Department, targeting crimes involving the migrant community in Aurora. Local authorities expressed their determination to cooperate with federal agencies in tackling criminal activity, especially those linked to violent gangs entering their jurisdictions. The situation illustrates the complex interplay between immigration issues and gang activity in Colorado, where law enforcement continues to face significant challenges in addressing these interconnected problems.