The city of Aurora, Colorado has declared war on a violent Venezuelan gang operating in an apartment building within its jurisdiction. After a video showing the heavily armed men went viral, local officials deemed the situation a “criminal nuisance,” which will allow them to issue emergency court-ordered evictions for the criminals involved.
Announcing this move on Friday, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman explained that a municipal judge would need to sign off on the order to regain control of the property for its rightful owners. This measure is expected to help curb the growing influence of these gangs in the area, as well as protect innocent residents from harm.
Coffman referred to a viral surveillance footage showing a group of armed men — including three with handguns and one with a rifle — entering a troubled apartment complex and breaking into a unit. Another clip taken at a different time shows two men bashing the lock of another unit within the same housing complex.
Authorities believe that the crew is possibly affiliated with the notorious prison gang Tren de Aragua, which has reportedly taken over several apartments in the Denver suburb. Investors have expressed their concern about losing control of their properties due to this situation.
Coffman revealed that the gang specifically targets properties owned by a single out-of-state entity. This revelation strengthens his belief that shutting down these buildings is the best course of action. High-profile crimes, including the murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley and the Big Apple shooting of two NYPD officers in June, have been linked to members of Tren de Aragua.
The city leader also criticized the federal government for allowing a surge in migration into the country. Many of these migrants have traveled to the sanctuary city of Denver, which is about 10 miles west of Aurora. Coffman speculated that the federal government may have collaborated with non-profits to place migrants in the affected buildings, making them vulnerable to exploitation by gangs like Tren de Aragua.
Earlier this week, Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ office dismissed the notion that the buildings had been seized by gang members, stating that police intelligence regarding this “purported invasion” is largely fabricated. Nonetheless, Aurora officials remain committed to addressing this issue and ensuring that such criminal activity does not continue unchecked in their city.
