By Chris Boyette

(CNN) — US federal agents early Sunday raided what authorities described as an underground nightclub in Colorado Springs and took into custody more than 100 migrants accused of being in the country illegally, the US Drug Enforcement Administration said.

“What was happening inside was significant drug trafficking, prostitution, crimes of violence,” Jonathan C. Pullen, special agent in charge at the DEA’s Rocky Mountain division, said at a news conference Sunday. “We seized a number of guns in there.”

Also, some active-duty military members were at the club – some of whom were working there – and were turned over to the Army, Pullen said. “We had active-duty service members who were running security at the club and involved in some of these crimes,” he said.

The operation came as President Donald Trump is approaching 100 days into his second term, marked by a surge of controversial policies, including a crackdown on immigration in the US. Trump on Monday is expected to sign a new executive order stepping up his administration’s crackdown on immigration.

Here’s what we know about the raid:

How the raid happened

The DEA and other agencies had been monitoring the nightclub for “a number of months,” according to Pullen. Authorities did not identify the club.

During the surveillance, investigators documented drug trafficking, prostitution and the presence of people suspected to be members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, the international gang MS-13, and the Hells Angels, Pullen said. It wasn’t immediately clear whether members of those groups were at the club during Sunday’s raid, Pullen said.

Agents from the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement participated in Sunday’s raid, the DEA said on X. Hundreds of agents across more than 10 federal agencies participated in the raid, Pullen said.

When asked about what charges would be filed, Pullen told Fox News on Monday they will come, but gave no specific timeline.

“This is the beginning of an investigation, not the end,” he said, adding they still are still looking into details like who supplied the drugs.

DEA special agents announced their presence prior to entering the nightclub, and occupants were given multiple warnings to come out, according to the DEA’s Rocky Mountain field division.

The DEA posted video to social media showing agents outside a building in what appears to be a strip mall, calling to the people inside: “This is the police with a search warrant demanding entry. Exit the front door one at a time with nothing in your hands, held high above your head.” Instructions in Spanish followed.

Another DEA video showed federal officers breaking a large front window of the building. People fled through a door, but were stopped by additional armed agents, the video shows.

Authorities found drugs at the club, including cocaine and pink cocaine, also known as “tusi,” Pullen said.

Pullen told Fox News during law enforcement’s surveillance, they observed dangerous activity.

“I had agents out there two weeks ago, and these idiots showing up at this club were driving around shooting our guns off out of the car windows. So this is a dangerous environment and I’m glad we are able to do something about it,” he said.

Details about those detained

Those believed to be in the US illegally were taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Pullen said. “200 people were inside – at least 114 in the US illegally,” the DEA’s Rocky Mountain field division said.

Also, more than a dozen active-duty members of the US military were at the club during the raid – some who were patrons, and some who were working security, Pullen said.

The active-duty service members were handed over to the US Army Criminal Investigation Division, Pullen said. A spokesperson for the Army Criminal Investigation Division told CNN that it was conducting a joint investigation with the DEA, which was the lead agency. “As this is an ongoing investigation, we are unable to provide additional information at this time,” the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson at Fort Carson, a military installation in Colorado, said, “We acknowledge that there were some Fort Carson service members present at the location during the operation. Each person involved in this incident is presumed innocent until proven guilty. We will look at everyone’s situation on a case-by-case basis. Illegal activities of any kind do not represent our military values.”

The DEA has not said what, if any, charges were filed against anyone in the club, or released the names of those detained. CNN has reached out to ICE for more details.

US Attorney General Pamela Bondi posted on X that two people had been arrested on outstanding warrants during the raid, but she did not elaborate.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver had no comment.

Local police involved in aspects of raid

The Colorado Springs Police Department said Monday approximately 40 of its officers participated in the raid and took the two people with warrants into custody. Those cases had nothing to do with the raid.

One was wanted on a failure to appear on a warrant from a neighboring county and the other had a warrant for third-degree assault, criminal mischief and child abuse, according to the police department.

“The details of exactly how this investigation began are not being released at this time – as federal investigations into activity at the underground club are continuing, and we anticipate there will be more arrests made in the future tied to criminal activity at this location,” CSPD said in a statement.

The department clarified it was present to support federal law enforcement responding to “drug activity at the club” and did not directly work with ICE regarding any migrants in the country illegally.

Authorities have not stated who was responsible for running the club, but at this time, police said, there is no investigation into the property owner.

Colorado law restricts state and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration officials’ efforts to arrest, detain or gather migrants’ personal information. Even so, the state consists of a patchwork of municipalities with differing stances on immigration enforcement.

Michael J. Allen, the local district attorney, applauded the raid, saying in a news release it shows “how pervasive this issue has become, and the ways in which sanctuary laws have eroded public safety for Coloradans.”

“Over the past several years, the Colorado Legislature has forced upon all Coloradans sanctuary status for illegal immigrants,” he said. “Those laws have in many ways blocked the ability of local law enforcement agencies to work with federal immigration authorities.”

He thanked federal authorities for their work and encouraged “all Coloradans to reach out to their legislative representative to enact the necessary changes to keep our communities safe.”

What politicians are saying

President Trump praised the raid on TruthSocial.

Alongside a video of agents entering the building, Trump wrote: “A big Raid last night on some of the worst people illegally in our Country — Drug Dealers, Murderers, and other Violent Criminals, of all shapes and sizes, and Judges don’t want to send them back to where they came from. If we don’t win this battle at the Supreme Court, our Country, as we know it, is FINISHED! It will be a Crime ridden MESS. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

The raid comes amid a large push by the Trump administration to deport people accused of being in the country illegally –– an effort that has faced legal challenges. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court paused the deportation of immigrants potentially subject to the Alien Enemies Act.

The Justice Department has repeatedly asserted it will investigate any local officials who do not assist federal authorities with immigration matters.

Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade, who was elected as an independent, thanked law enforcement officials involved in the raid, saying: “Criminal activity of any kind, from anyone, will not be tolerated in Colorado Springs. This investigation and the execution of these warrants are the result of clear evidence of serious criminal conduct.”

The office of Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, issued a statement to CNN affiliate KRDO: “Governor Polis is focused on making Colorado safer for everyone, and that includes cracking down on illegal drugs and firearms. We await the details from the DEA and federal government on this action.”

Last week, the DOJ charged a Milwaukee County circuit judge on suspicion of helping an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest, in what her peer described as “a message to chill the judiciary.”

CNN’s Isabel Rosales, Andi Babineau, Taylor Romine, Susannah Cullinane and Hanna Park contributed to this report.

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