A massive federal law enforcement operation disrupts criminal activities across major U.S. cities as part of the Trump administration's enhanced deportation initiative.
According to the New York Post, federal agents apprehended approximately 50 members of the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua during a raid at a makeshift nightclub in Adams County, just outside Denver city limits.
The Drug Enforcement Administration's operation yielded significant results, with agents seizing cash, weapons, and drugs, including a powerful narcotic known as "pink cocaine" or Tusi. The gang members were caught during an invite-only party, marking a crucial breakthrough in law enforcement efforts to combat organized crime in the Denver metropolitan area.
Major Federal Operation Targets Criminal Networks Across American Cities
The Colorado raid is part of a broader nationwide initiative called "Operation Return to Sender," which has resulted in approximately 600 arrests of illegal immigrants with criminal backgrounds in sanctuary cities across the country. The operation involves multiple federal agencies, including the DEA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations, and ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations.
DEA acting administrator Derek Maltz emphasized the administration's commitment to public safety, stating:
We want the country to know that we will all support the president's priority to round up the most dangerous illegal criminals. The citizens of this country must feel safe every day throughout the country. One of my goals is to help build an army of good to fight evil.
The operation has particularly focused on the Denver suburb of Aurora, where Tren de Aragua had established a strong presence, reportedly taking control of entire neighborhoods and apartment complexes.
High-Profile Arrests Include Suspected ISIS Members and Violent Offenders
The nationwide operation has resulted in several significant arrests beyond the Colorado raid. In western New York, agents apprehended a Jordanian national with suspected ISIS connections, while ICE Seattle detained Edgar De La Cruz-Manzo, a Mexican national convicted of child rape.
Law enforcement officials in Los Angeles successfully captured an MS-13 gang member from El Salvador who was wanted for aggravated homicide and had an Interpol Red Notice. The operation also led to the arrest of Kevin Adith Torres-Velasquez in Seattle, who was found in possession of cocaine, fentanyl, and firearms.
Similar enforcement actions have taken place in various locations, including New York state, where agents arrested Gokhan Adriguzel, a 30-year-old Turkish national identified as a known or suspected terrorist.
Strategic Implementation Marks New Phase in Immigration Enforcement
The operation represents a significant shift in immigration enforcement strategy, with raids occurring seven days a week in major metropolitan areas. ICE has partnered with multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service, to conduct these targeted operations.
Social media posts from the White House have highlighted the arrests of various criminal offenders, including Brazilian national Vitor De Sousa-Lima, convicted of vehicular manslaughter, and Ethiopian national Yared Geremew Mekonnen, a convicted sex offender.
The operation demonstrates the administration's coordinated approach to immigration enforcement, with border czar Tom Homan personally overseeing raids in Chicago.
Decisive Action Against Criminal Networks Shows Results
The federal operation targeting Tren de Aragua members in Colorado represents a significant victory in the ongoing effort to combat organized crime and illegal immigration. The arrest of 50 gang members in Denver, along with hundreds of other criminal suspects nationwide, demonstrates the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts across multiple agencies. As Operation Return to Sender continues, federal authorities remain committed to identifying and apprehending individuals who pose threats to public safety, with a particular focus on gang members, suspected terrorists, and those with violent criminal histories.
