NYC Bust: Venezuelan Gang Members Arrested in Major Drug and Credit Card Scam

Two members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua, Denyeer Aramillo Meneses (23) and Edison Pena Angulo (25), were arrested in the Bronx. The arrests, made by an NYPD gang task force and Homeland Security, were part of a larger operation targeting a major credit card scam and drug trafficking ring.

<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/11/1200/675/tda-arrestees.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="Denyeer Aramillo Meneses, 23, and Edison Pena Angulo, 25">

The Bust

The arrests were the result of a six-month investigation into violent gang crimes. Fifteen suspected gang members were apprehended in total. Authorities seized three assault rifles, two pistols, numerous cartridges, and other semi-automatic weapons during the raid.

The specifics of the federal indictments against Meneses and Angulo remain sealed. However, they previously faced charges of menacing with a firearm and first-degree burglary in Aurora, Colorado, in connection with an apartment takeover.

Aurora Apartment Takeover

Meneses and Angulo were involved in a highly publicized incident at Aurora's The Edge at Lowry Complex. Video footage shows them and four other armed men entering apartments and threatening occupants; one person was fatally shot. This event sparked widespread concern regarding the gang's activities and violent expansion.

<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/TdA-Aurora-Apartment.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="Tren de Aragua gang members rush apartment door, left, Occupied apartment building with "Venezuela" graffiti, right">

Expanding Criminal Activities

The Tren de Aragua gang is allegedly involved in a range of criminal activities beyond the Aurora incident, including credit card fraud, drug trafficking (synthetic marijuana, heroin, Tussi), and robberies. The gang's influence has spread across various locations, resulting in multiple arrests and investigations. Their operations span multiple states.

<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/03/1200/675/tattoos.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="Tren de Aragua gang members tattoos">

The arrests highlight the ongoing threat posed by the Tren de Aragua gang and the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating their expansive criminal network.