Over 100 illegal immigrants and (surprisingly), active-duty military personnel were detained in a massive DEA raid on a Colorado Springs underground nightclub linked to notorious gangs like Tren De Aragua and MS-13.
Key Takeaways
- A large-scale operation involving over 300 federal agents and local law enforcement officers uncovered an underground nightclub hub for drug trafficking, prostitution, and violence near Academy Boulevard and Airport Road.
- 114 illegal immigrants were taken into custody during the raid, alongside several active-duty military personnel who were either working as armed security or patronizing the establishment.
- Authorities seized “pink cocaine,” methamphetamine, standard cocaine, and multiple weapons from the venue, which was reportedly frequented by members of violent gangs including Tren De Aragua (TdA) and MS-13.
- The operation is part of President Trump’s broader immigration enforcement campaign to expedite deportations and target criminal elements among illegal immigrants.
- Colorado’s sanctuary policies have been criticized by officials for enabling such criminal enterprises to flourish within the state.
Multi-Agency Operation Uncovers Criminal Hub
In what authorities are calling a significant blow to organized crime in Colorado, over 300 federal agents executed a meticulously planned raid on an illegal nightclub in Colorado Springs early Sunday morning. The operation, led by the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division, involved numerous agencies including the FBI, ICE, ATF, IRS, U.S. Army CID, and local law enforcement.
The nightclub, located near Academy Boulevard and Airport Road, had been under investigation for months as a suspected hub for drug trafficking, prostitution, and other violent criminal activities connected to international gangs operating within the United States.
“Colorado Springs is waking up to a safer community today,” said Jonathan Pullen, DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge. The raid has already uncovered substantial evidence supporting the DEA’s concerns about the extent of criminal operations at the location. “When the cops showed up at the door, most of the drugs hit the floor,” Pullen noted, indicating the panic that ensued when law enforcement entered the premises.
UPDATE
Over 100 undocumented immigrants and over a dozen active duty military members were arrested in a DEA raid at an underground nightclub in Colorado Springs on Sunday.
Details about those arrested are expected in the days to come.
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Illegal Immigrants and Military Personnel Among Detained
Of the approximately 200 people inside the nightclub at the time of the raid, 114 were identified as illegal immigrants and taken into custody by ICE officers. Many are expected to face federal immigration charges and likely deportation. The presence of at least a dozen active-duty military personnel at the venue has raised serious concerns among officials. Some were reportedly working as armed security while others were patrons of the establishment, creating a troubling connection between U.S. military members and criminal activities.
“It’s obviously concerning to have active-duty military involved. We’re working with our partners at Army CID on that case. There’s a lot of military bases here, so it’s not necessarily surprising, but we’re going to take that very seriously,” said DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen.
The DEA has confirmed they are collaborating with Army Criminal Investigation Division to address the involvement of military personnel. “I think that everybody that goes into a nightclub at 3 o’clock in the morning knows what they’re getting into. The active duty servicemembers who were there will be dealt with by Army CID [Criminal Investigation Division]. They were on scene with us, and they are partners in this investigation,” Pullen explained.
Gang Connections and Drug Seizures
Perhaps most alarming are the reported connections between the nightclub and notorious transnational criminal organizations. Law enforcement officials have indicated that the venue was frequented by members of dangerous gangs, including the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), MS-13, and Hells Angels. The raid yielded seizures of various narcotics, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and “pink cocaine” – a designer drug that has been growing in popularity among nightclub scenes.
“In our investigation, we have noticed TDA, MS-13, and a few Hells Angels in this club. I don’t have the information about whether those members were there tonight, but we’re still working through a lot of that because we have so many people in custody. We’re working through a lot of the information about who’s who,” said DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi highlighted the seriousness of the situation on social media: “This morning @DEAHQ apprehended over 100 illegal aliens at an underground night club frequented by TdA and MS-13 terrorists. Cocaine, meth, and pink cocaine was seized.”
Part of Trump’s Immigration Enforcement Campaign
The Colorado Springs raid represents a significant action in President Trump’s ongoing immigration enforcement campaign. The operation comes as part of a broader effort to expedite deportations and target illegal immigrants involved in criminal activities across the nation. Following similar operations in Florida that resulted in nearly 800 arrests, the administration continues to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening immigration enforcement and addressing public safety concerns associated with illegal immigration.
“A big Raid last night on some of the worst people illegally in our Country — Drug Dealers, Murderers, and other Violent Criminals, of all shapes and sizes,” President Trump shared on his social media after the DEA released video footage of the operation.
Local officials have criticized Colorado’s sanctuary policies, suggesting they have contributed to the state becoming a haven for illegal immigrants involved in criminal activities. This raid underscores the ongoing tensions between federal immigration enforcement priorities and local sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, however, has emphasized the city’s commitment to upholding the rule of law regardless of such policies.
“I was briefed ahead of today’s coordinated operation, and I want to thank the DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division, the Colorado Springs Police Department, and all of our local, state, and federal partners for their work to enforce the rule of law. Let me be clear: criminal activity of any kind, from anyone, will not be tolerated in Colorado Springs,” stated Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade.
