Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the uncertainty around the detainment status of U.S. military members at the nightclub as a result of the raid.
(NewsNation) — A Colorado mayor said he is committed to the safety of his community and hopes to see more raids following Sunday’s arrest in Colorado City of more than 100 migrants allegedly in the United States illegally.
The raid, led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, resulted in the detainment of 114 people. Investigators say there were 17 active-duty U.S. military members at the club, some of whom were providing armed security for the establishment. It’s unclear if they were detained after the raid.
Authorities also reportedly discovered methamphetamines and powdered drugs, including pink cocaine.
“I anticipate that there will be more arrests,” Mayor Yemi Mobolade told “NewsNation Now.” “I hope to see more raids happen in my city. This is not the first one.”
‘A safe city is a great city’: Colorado Springs mayor
Mobolade noted that 40 officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department were involved in the operation Sunday.
Mobolade commended President Donald Trump’s efforts to ensure safety in the U.S., ostensibly through his border policies.
“I can actually appreciate what the president and his team are doing,” he said. “The No. 1 role of government at all levels, whether it’s federal, state or local. In my case, it’s the safety of our community. If you don’t have a safe community, you have nothing. I have often said that a great city is a safe city … a safe city is a great city.”
Mobolade, the first immigrant mayor of Colorado Springs, also noted it is a “blessing” to live in the U.S. and be afforded the safety the country offers.
Underground nightclub ‘dangerous place’ for drugs, prostitution: DEA agent
The Colorado Springs nightclub raided by federal agents was “a dangerous place” where drug trafficking and prostitution took place, according to the DEA’s top official in the region.
Jonathan Pullen, of the DEA’s Rocky Mountain division, said the club only operated from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. on weekends, attracting a dangerous clientele.
“I’ve had agents in there on multiple occasions, and they’ve witnessed drug trafficking. We’ve actually purchased drugs in this club undercover. They’ve witnessed prostitution taking place,” Pullen told NewsNation.
“It’s disappointing to see active-duty military folks in an environment like this,” Pullen said.
During the raid, some armed individuals allegedly attempted to dispose of their weapons by dropping them on the floor, throwing them in a closet, or, in one case, tossing a gun under a car while trying to flee.
Pullen described the venue as “a den of iniquity” that had previously operated at various addresses across Colorado Springs. The club came under surveillance after authorities received numerous 911 calls reporting shootings, drug trafficking and overdoses.
“There was a person who overdosed at this club a few weeks ago. They didn’t want to call the cops there, so somebody drove him down the street about a mile, dumped him out, then they called 911,” Pullen said.
Undercover agents reported seeing MS-13, Tren de Aragua at Colorado club
The operation involved 10 federal agencies — including Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Internal Revenue Service; and the FBI — along with two sheriff’s departments and the local police department.
According to Pullen, those detained included individuals from Guatemala, Cuba, El Salvador, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Nicaragua, Chile and Honduras.
The nightclub was reportedly located in what Pullen described as “a rough part of town.” He mentioned receiving a grateful voicemail from a neighbor concerned about the establishment.
“He’d been nervous and worried for months because of what’s happening. Even told his family, his kids, ‘Hey, we’re not going over there on the weekends. It’s too dangerous,'” Pullen said.
Prior to the raid, undercover agents reported seeing members of gangs, including MS-13, Tren de Aragua, and Hell’s Angels, at the club. However, Pullen said they were still processing those arrested to confirm gang affiliations.