Related Federal Cases
Tren de Aragua Members Brought to Justice in Colorado
Thirty individuals, including several alleged leaders and members of designated foreign terrorist organization Tren de Aragua (TdA), have been charged with drug trafficking, murder-for-hire, and firearms offenses in a sweeping federal case in Colorado.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announced two federal indictments that charge the individuals with 39 counts of firearms trafficking, using firearms to commit drug trafficking crimes, possession of firearms and ammunition by illegal aliens, and trafficking controlled substances including methamphetamine, cocaine, and “Tusi”—a narcotic drug originating in Venezuela which contains a variety of controlled substances including ketamine, methamphetamine, and MDMA (Ecstasy), and is typically manufactured to be pink in color.
Federal authorities conducted a nine-month investigation into the activities of TdA, which has been linked to brutal offenses including murder, kidnapping, extortion, and human and drug trafficking. Many of TdA’s members have unlawfully entered the United States, bringing the gang’s violence to American communities, including in Colorado.
Of the 28 defendants in the United States, 24 are in federal custody.
Luis Fernando Uribe-Torrealba, 29, and Luis Henriquez-Charaima, 29, were charged with six counts including a conspiracy to traffic firearms, a conspiracy to traffic controlled substances, carjacking, and a conspiracy to commit murder for hire. Colombian authorities arrested Uribe-Torrealba and Henriquez-Charaima in Colombia on July 30, 2025, pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant the United States had requested based on charges in this case.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations also participated in the investigation.
The Violent Crime and Immigration Enforcement Section of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado is handling the prosecution, along with members of Joint Task Force Vulcan (JTFV).
JTFV was created in 2019 to eradicate MS-13 and now expanded to target Tren de Aragua, and is comprised of U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country, including the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Eastern and Western Districts of North Carolina; Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; Southern District of Florida; Eastern District of Texas; Western District of Oklahoma; Northern District of Indiana; and the District of Nevada.
This case is part of Operation Take Back Am.
Defendant: Luis Fernando Uribe-Torrealba and Luis Henriquez-Charaima
Crime: Conspiracy to traffic firearms, conspiracy to traffic controlled substances, carjacking, conspiracy to commit murder for hire
City and State: Colorado
Date: July 30, 2025
Outcome: Remains in custody in Colombia pending further extradition proceedings
Dollar Amounts: None
Other: The ATF recovered 69 firearms through this operation, including automatic machineguns. Many of these firearms have been linked to shootings in Denver and Aurora, including carjackings, robberies, and drive-by shootings.
Key Facts
- State: Colorado
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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