Armed Venezuelan Gang takes Over Colorado Apartment Complex?

Criminal street gangs seizing housing projects and or apartments - like the recent incident in Aurora Colorado where the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang is accused of forcefully taking over apartment buildings - is not a new phenomenon.?

In the 90’s street gang control of housing complexes peaked and was common.? Alzan-Apache courts in San Antonio, Avalon Gardens in Los Angeles, Cabrini-Green Homes in Chicago, and the Tompkins housing project in Brooklyn to name a few. ?

It is alleged that . . . 900 members engaged in violence to establish geographic dominance . . . controlled certain geographic areas in Brooklyn, which included the Sumner Houses, Tompkins Houses and 303 Vernon Avenue developments of the New York City Housing Authority . . . ?within the confines of the 79th?and 81st?Precincts . . . some 900 members participated in violent criminal acts, including murder and shootings. Erick Gonzalez Brooklyn District Attorney

The recent incident in Aurora Colorado may be the result of:

• An organized criminal effort to further criminal enterprises
• Have at its roots Marxist ideology found in the Okupa/Occupy movement
• The by-product of the Venezuelan “migrant influencer” Leonel Moreno.? Moreno advocated for his fellow Venezuelan immigrants to “squat” in American homes.? Moreno was arrested by Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s (ICE) fugitive operations officers in March of this year.?

Of concern and because it is related to illegal immigration, is the potential for vigilantism from extreme groups and even opposition of enforcement efforts from NGO's.

At the end of the day, the response to this type of threat will require a combined effort between the community, law enforcement, and federal law enforcement.? Be it through law enforcement, nuisance abatement, operations aimed at public safety, working with the legislature, collaborating with city councils and county commissioners - the strategies and solutions exist.? All should reassess strategies applied in the past for application and improvement and most importantly for the benefit of all members of the community.?

About the author: Lawrence Lujan is a Commander with 34 years of service and is also a graduate of the?FBI National Academy - session 274 and the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (LEMIT) Class 58. His operational and instructional experience is focused on individual and special team tactics (leadership, officer safety, patrol field tactics, active shooter response, mobile field force, firearms, gang enforcement and SWAT). He has taught internationally in South Korea, El Salvador, and Canada with operational experience in Honduras, Canada, Panama and Colombia. Lawrence brings a unique and sought-after skill set to the law enforcement arena.