In a sweeping pre-dawn operation that has gripped national attention, federal agents descended upon an illegal underground nightclub in Colorado Springs early Sunday morning, detaining more than 100 illegal immigrants and implicating over a dozen active-duty U.S. service members. The dramatic raid, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Rocky Mountain Division, is the latest flashpoint in the Trump administration's intensified crackdown on criminal activity tied to illegal immigration.
The raid unfolded at 3:45 a.m., when hundreds of federal agents, supported by local law enforcement and major federal partners, launched a coordinated sweep of the club, catching hundreds of patrons off-guard. Dramatic footage posted by the DEA captured agents ordering fleeing suspects to the ground at gunpoint as the operation surged forward. In total, over 200 people were inside the venue at the time; of these, 114 illegal immigrants were arrested and placed on buses for processing and likely deportation.
Among the other explosive revelations from the operation was the discovery that more than a dozen active-duty U.S. military personnel were either present as patrons or working security at the club. These service members, now under investigation by the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division, may face serious consequences as authorities uncover the extent of their involvement.
#DEA Rocky Mountain led a multi-agency enforcement operation along with our local and federal partners early this morning.@DHSgov has taken more than 100 illegal aliens into custody. Drugs and weapons have also been seized at this underground nightclub in Colorado Springs. pic.twitter.com/R4Smb3voAg
— DEARockyMountain (@DEAROCKYMTNDiv) April 27, 2025
Authorities seized a cache of illegal drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and the increasingly notorious "pink cocaine," along with multiple firearms. Investigators also uncovered evidence of organized prostitution and violent crimes linked to the criminal syndicates Tren de Aragua (TdA) and MS-13—groups President Trump’s administration recently designated as terrorist organizations.
The raid comes at a critical time for Colorado, a state still reeling from previous incidents involving South American gang activity. Last year’s viral footage of alleged TdA gang members brazenly patrolling Aurora apartment complexes had already thrust Colorado into the national conversation about the dangers posed by transnational crime.
DEA Rocky Mountain Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan C. Pullen minced no words at Sunday’s press conference: "What was happening inside was significant drug trafficking, prostitution, crimes of violence... We had active-duty service members who were running security at the club and involved in some of these crimes."
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi praised the coordinated effort involving a staggering array of agencies—from the FBI and ICE to the IRS and Customs and Border Patrol. Bondi heralded the raid as proof that President Trump's directive to "make America safe again" is delivering results just shy of his 100th day back in office.
As images and videos of the operation circulate widely across social media, they have ignited fierce responses. Right-wing commentators, including Nick Sortor, hailed the DEA’s success, calling the roundup "amazing to watch." Yet questions remain about the final fates of those arrested. Many may soon find themselves transferred to places like El Salvador’s notorious CECOT mega-prison, a facility that has become synonymous with the war against organized crime.