The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) arrested nearly 50 individuals over the weekend, most of whom were linked to the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan gang that has expanded its operations across the Western Hemisphere. The Biden administration designated TdA as a transnational criminal organization in 2024, prompting intensified law enforcement efforts. The DEA’s recent operation targeted a makeshift nightclub in Adams County, Colorado, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of drugs, weapons, and cash.
The raid, conducted early Sunday morning, involved a coordinated effort by the DEA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The Rocky Mountain Division of the DEA released a video showing “nearly 50 illegal aliens” being transported by bus from the nightclub. According to officials, 49 individuals were taken into custody without incident, with more than 40 identified as undocumented immigrants.
Jonathan Pullen, a DEA special agent in charge, stated in a press release, “DEA’s Rocky Mountain Field Division has been investigating TdA drug trafficking since last summer, and today’s successful operation shows that the men and women of DEA will not rest until our communities are safe from this gang and the drugs they peddle.”
@cwebnews Watch DEA arrests nearly 50 TdA Venezuelan gang members in Colorado, CWEB reports The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) arrested nearly 50 individuals over the weekend, most of whom were linked to the Tren de Aragua (TdA), a Venezuelan gang that has expanded its operations across the Western Hemisphere. The Biden administration designated TdA as a transnational criminal organization in 2024, prompting intensified law enforcement efforts. The DEA’s recent operation targeted a makeshift nightclub in Adams County, Colorado, resulting in multiple arrests and the seizure of drugs, weapons, and cash. #colorado #dea #trendearagua ? original sound – CWEB
The raid, executed at approximately 5 a.m., targeted an invite-only event at a makeshift nightclub located at 6600 Northern Federal Boulevard in unincorporated Adams County. More than 100 law enforcement officials participated in the operation, which was carried out under a federal search warrant.
In a separate but related development, DEA Denver arrested two additional individuals on Monday near Mississippi Avenue and Quebec Street in the Washington Virginia Vale neighborhood. While these arrests were connected to drug trafficking and money laundering, officials confirmed they were not directly linked to the TdA gang. Investigators are expected to remain in the area as the probe continues.
CWEB Analyst Perspective:
CWEB analysts highlighted the significance of the DEA’s operation, noting the growing influence of transnational criminal organizations like TdA in the U.S. “The Trump administration’s designation of TdA as a transnational criminal organization underscores the severity of the threat posed by such groups,” said a CWEB analyst. “This operation reflects the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating organized crime and drug trafficking networks that operate across borders.”
The arrests come amid heightened concerns about the expansion of international gangs into the U.S. and their involvement in drug trafficking, human smuggling, and other criminal activities. The DEA’s efforts to dismantle these networks are critical to ensuring public safety and curbing the flow of illegal drugs into communities.
