DEA Busts Dozens Of Illegal Aliens, Tren De Aragua Members In Colorado Raid

Federal agents arrested dozens of Tren de Aragua members in an overnight raid in Aurora, Colorado.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) busted close to 50 members or associates of the notorious Venezuelan gang at a “makeshift nightclub” in Aurora, a well-documented hub of Tren de Aragua activity, according to the DEA’s Rocky Mountain division.

Federal agents and local law enforcement conducted “an early AM operation targeting drug trafficking & members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). Drugs, weapons, and cash were seized in Adams County. Nearly 50 illegal aliens were taken into custody,” the DEA said in a statement on X.

#DEA agents, @HSIDenver @ERODenver @ATF_Denver & local partners conduct an early AM operation targeting drug trafficking & members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). Drugs, weapons, and cash were seized in Adams County. Nearly 50 illegal aliens were taken into custody. pic.twitter.com/cyUJTk6rCH

— DEARockyMountain (@DEAROCKYMTNDiv) January 26, 2025

In another post, the DEA called the gathering of illegal aliens an “invite-only” affair and posted video of a bus that hauled away all those arrested.

An early AM raid of a makeshift nightclub in Adams County. #DEA, @ERODenver, @HSIDenver, @ATFHQ along w local partners seize drugs, cash, weapons.
This was invite-only – dozens connected to the Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang were there.
This bus took away nearly 50 illegal aliens. pic.twitter.com/hQDtonGW9Z

— DEARockyMountain (@DEAROCKYMTNDiv) January 26, 2025

In addition to weapons and cash, a drug known as Tusi or “pink cocaine” was also seized at the black market club. Tusi one of the illicit drugs Tren de Aragua has trafficked throughout the United States, according to the New York Post.

“We want the country to know that we will all support the president’s priority to round up the most dangerous illegal criminals,” DEA acting administrator Derek Maltz told the Post.

“The President and the DOJ leaders have made it clear that we are going to work together with a sense of urgency to hold violent criminals accountable,” he added. “The citizens of this country must feel safe every day throughout the country. One of my goals is to help build an army of good to fight evil.”

The bust is one of the latest enforcement actions in President Donald Trump’s first week in office and a sign of the escalating deportation operation that the Trump administration is pursuing. Trump’s promise to effect mass deportations after years of unprecedented levels of illegal immigration was one of the cornerstones of his 2024 presidential campaign.

The Department of Homeland Security noted in a memo last year that Tren de Aragua was active across 16 states in the U.S. The Venezuelan gang has been connected to a series of serious crimes, including murder, drug and sex trafficking, attacks on police, and the seizure of places such as apartment buildings to house and headquarter its criminal activity.