Homeland Security agents apprehended an influential member of Venezuela’s notorious criminal gang Tren de Aragua early Tuesday morning in New York City. Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco is 25 years old. Numerous crimes, such as kidnapping, burglary, and threats, made him a target. He committed all these crimes in Aurora, Colorado.
An immigration raid led to Zambrano-Pacheco’s detention at an apartment in the Bronx, New York. He is accused of being the boss of Tren de Aragua, a notorious organization known for heinous crimes such as human trafficking for sexual exploitation, people smuggling, and drug trafficking. The gang, which originated in a Venezuelan prison, immediately achieved international popularity and spread throughout the United States.
The United States government has designated Tren de Aragua as one of the most dangerous transnational criminal groups. Under outgoing US President Donald Trump’s executive order, the group was designated as a foreign terrorist organization because of its widespread criminal activity and dangers to national security.
There are initiatives underway in Aurora to combat the gang’s rise to prominence. The mayor of Aurora referred to the situation as a “nightmare.” The Tren de Aragua members’ growing violence prompted the formation of a special task team.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem expressed relief after the arrest. She promised to continue removing such criminals from the streets.
