An estimated 114 undocumented immigrants were detained at an “underground nightclub” in Colorado after a Drug Enforcement Administration raid, officials said.
Jonathan Pullen, the DEA’s special agent in charge in Denver, said more than 100 people were detained after a monthslong investigation involving the Colorado Springs club led to the raid Saturday night, which ran into early Sunday.
Some of the patrons were arrested based on active state warrants, he said at a news conference. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi put the number of people arrested based on warrants at two.
Also inside the club, Pullen said, were guns, drugs and more than a dozen active-duty service members posing as patrons or working as armed security.
“As you may suspect, when the cops showed up at the door, most of the drugs hit the floor, and we did find cocaine,” he said. “We haven’t had time to test everything, but there were dozens of small packages.”
Army Criminal Investigation Division personnel were at the raid and were helping investigate, Pullen said. The division and Army Public Affairs at nearby Fort Carson did not immediately respond to requests for comment Sunday night.
The DEA posted video of the moments before the raid on social media. It shows law enforcement officers in tactical gear surrounding the location and features audio of warnings in English and Spanish to those inside to exit peacefully.
