Nearly 50 people living in Colorado illegally were arrested Sunday morning after federal agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other partners raided a makeshift nightclub in Adams County, federal officials said.
DEA officials said just under 50 undocumented immigrants, some associated with the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
The raid, which federal officials said on social media was designed to target drug trafficking and the TdA gang, happened in the 6600 block of Federal Avenue, according to Denver7. The operation started around 9 p.m. Saturday and agents moved in on the warehouse around 3 a.m.
The exact number of people arrested was unavailable Sunday morning, but DEA officials said “dozens” connected to the TdA gang were detained.
A large group had been gathering to party inside the vacant warehouse for several months, Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen told Denver7 reporters Sunday. He said suspected TdA gang members posted invitations to the Saturday night party on social media.
One video posted by DEA officials on X shows federal agents restraining and lining people up outside of a warehouse. A second video shows a nondescript, white bus with no labels taking the group away to a detention facility.
DEA officials also said drugs, weapons and cash were seized from the warehouse, but they didn’t specify what kinds or how many.
The department did not respond to requests for comment Sunday morning.
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