Congressman Gabe Evans has issued a statement following the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro under Operation Absolute Resolve. Evans, who is Colorado’s only Latino representative in Congress, addressed the impact of the operation on national and local security.
“Every 15 days under the Biden administration, drug overdoses killed more Americans than were lost in the 9/11 attacks.
As the only Latino in Colorado’s congressional delegation to DC, I know that today, Colorado and our nation are now safer.
The arrest of Nicolas Maduro – a narco terrorist responsible for the death of countless Americans, exporting violence via gangs and cartels like Tren de Aragua, corruption, and drug trafficking, – sends a clear message: the United States will not tolerate regimes that poison our people and threaten our national security.
Special thanks to the U.S. prosecutors and law enforcement who worked to secure the federal indictments against Maduro, and to our brave military, who arrested him.”
Maduro has been accused by federal prosecutors of leading Cartel de los Soles, a network involving senior Venezuelan officials in large-scale cocaine shipments. Allegations also include collaboration with Colombia’s FARC group as well as facilitating weapons transfers and international narcotics trafficking. In March 2020, he was indicted in New York on charges such as narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine.
Federal law enforcement in Colorado has recently charged members of Tren de Aragua—a Venezuelan gang—with crimes including racketeering conspiracy (RICO), robbery, kidnapping, firearms offenses, and violent attacks on businesses. These actions are part of broader efforts by federal authorities to target transnational criminal organizations operating within the United States.
Evans criticized what he described as weak border security policies under President Biden’s administration. He argued these policies have allowed foreign-linked gangs to expand their influence into American communities. Drawing from his background as an army combat veteran and former police officer with 22 years of experience, Evans expressed support for continued federal initiatives focused on border control and dismantling criminal networks affecting families across Colorado—including those in the state’s 8th District Hispanic community.
To address foreign-backed organized crime further, Evans introduced bipartisan legislation called The Law Enforcement Support and Counter Transnational Repression Act earlier this year. The bill aims to improve coordination between federal and local law enforcement agencies while increasing public awareness about transnational repression. It also seeks to connect victims of foreign intimidation with federal resources.
The proposed legislation is intended to protect diaspora communities—including Colorado’s Hispanic population—from threats or violence linked to criminal networks or foreign governments attempting operations inside the United States. According to Evans’ office, this effort complements ongoing national strategies aimed at dismantling transnational organizations and holding foreign actors accountable for activities that threaten American communities.
