More than 100 individuals allegedly in the United States illegally were arrested after federal authorities raided what officials described as an underground nightclub in Colorado Springs overnight. The raid also led officials to uncover a host of criminal activities, including drug trafficking, prostitution, and illegal weapons possession.
The operation, which was partially caught on camera, had been months in the making, according to Jonathan C. Pullen, special agent leading the DEA Rocky Mountain Division. CNN reported that Pullen detailed that the raid involved hundreds of federal agents, including the FBI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a social media post shared by the DEA.
Firearms and multiple drugs were seized during the raid, according to the report. CNN, citing officials, also said that among the confiscated drugs were cocaine and what officials identified as “pink cocaine,” otherwise called “tusi”. Authorities discovered more than a dozen active-duty military personnel at the club, some of whom were directly involved in the illicit activities by allegedly supplying security services.
The DEA noted that the nightclub had long been under surveillance, and authorities had previously identified alleged activity linked to notorious gangs such as Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and the Hells Angels. However, at the time of the news report, officials had not determined if gang members were at the club during the operation.
According to CNN, DEA agents announced themselves and gave repeated warnings before breaching the building. Video footage shared by the agency shows officers breaking windows and instructing occupants in English and Spanish to exit with their hands raised.
Officials revealed that an estimated 200 people were inside the club, and among them, at least 114 were suspected of being in the country illegally and were detained by ICE. Additionally, the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division apprehended the military members for questioning as authorities probe their involvement.
