In a dramatic early morning operation on Tuesday, heavily armed officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the NYPD Special Operations unit raided a Bronx apartment, apprehending a notorious Tren de Aragua ringleader.
The Suspect
Anderson Zambrano-Pacheco, 25, was taken into custody in an Ogden Avenue apartment. The New York Post reports that Zambrano-Pacheco faces multiple charges, including kidnapping, burglary, and menacing, stemming from a violent incident captured on surveillance footage last August in Aurora, Colorado.
Neighbors described a tense scene as officers broke down the apartment door with a crowbar before arresting Zambrano-Pacheco.
“When they brought him out, he had shackles on his wrists and feet,” one neighbor said. “His face had a real angry expression. It was strange.”
Some residents recognized Zambrano-Pacheco from the building, while others noted that a woman and several children also lived in the raided apartment.
“They moved in September or October of this past year. They were very cooperative, very friendly,” said Emanuel Joseph, a neighbor who lives across the hallway.
The Aurora Incident: Zambrano-Pacheco was allegedly part of a heavily armed group seen on surveillance footage forcing their way into an apartment in Aurora, Colorado. The August incident, attributed to members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, sparked widespread concern in the community.
A video released by Fox 31 Denver revealed the gang terrorizing local residents, prompting Aurora Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky to sound the alarm.
Controversy Over Reporting
The gang’s presence in Aurora has been a contentious topic. Critics accused media outlets of downplaying the threat. NBC News reported skepticism surrounding claims of a gang takeover, citing residents who denied the rumors and felt unfairly targeted.
“Residents at the Aurora apartments, many of them immigrants from Venezuela and other Latin American countries, said they increasingly feel unsafe after being unfairly deemed criminals,” NBC wrote.
Despite the controversy, Tuesday’s arrest highlights the ongoing federal and local efforts to combat gang activity and restore safety to affected communities.