Federal agents raid cartel-linked underground nightclub in South Carolina, arrest 72
HSI and ICE arrested 72 illegal immigrants, including six minors, during a raid on “El Alamo,” an illicit nightclub in Charleston allegedly tied to the violent Northeast Cartel (CDN), formerly Los Zetas. Cash, drugs and firearms were seized.
The nightclub’s operator was linked to CDN, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization known for extreme violence, drug trafficking and human smuggling. A fugitive wanted for murder in Honduras was among those detained.
Tricia McLaughlin of DHS praised the operation, warning immigration violators that ICE will enforce deportations under the Trump administration’s strict policies.
The raid follows similar operations, including an April bust in Colorado targeting MS-13 and Tren de Aragua gang members at an underground club, where active-duty military personnel were also detained.
The arrests underscore efforts to combat cartel networks infiltrating U.S. communities, amid ongoing legal and political debates over immigration enforcement.
The operation conducted over the weekend of June 1 was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). According to authorities, the clandestine venue dubbed “El Alamo” was a hub for weapons and trafficking of drugs and persons. HSI and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents also seized cash, narcotics and firearms at the venue.
The six minors recovered during the raid were placed in state custody, while the rest of the detainees underwent processing for immigration violations or criminal charges. Among those detained was Honduran national Sergio Joel Galo-Baca, a fugitive wanted by INTERPOL for murder in his home country. (Related: Nearly 300 illegals with criminal histories ARRESTED in San Antonio sweep.)
The operator of the illegal nightclub was allegedly a member of the Northeast Cartel (CDN), formerly known as the Los Zetas cartel. Originally formed as an armed wing of Mexico’s Gulf Cartel, the group has long been notorious for extreme violence, including mass killings and human trafficking.
The U.S. Department of State designated CDN as a terrorist organization in February. In May, two of its leaders – Miguel Angel de Anda Ledezma and Ricardo Gonzalez Sauceda – were sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for violent crimes and trafficking of drugs and weapons.
Trump’s immigration crackdown intensifies, with illegal clubs on notice
Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), praised the South Carolina operation. “Day in and day out, the brave men and women of ICE are working with local law enforcement to keep American communities safe,” she said.
McLaughlin also issued a stark warning to those violating immigration laws: “Under President [Donald] Trump and [DHS] Secretary [Kristi] Noem, fugitives and law breakers are on notice. Leave now or ICE will deport you.”
Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized drugs and weapons from the club, and even detained active-duty military personnel allegedly involved in security operations there. Trump hailed the arrests in a Truth Social post, framing them as part of his broader crackdown on illegal immigration and organized crime.
The arrests highlight the Trump administration’s continued efforts to dismantle cartel-linked operations within the U.S., even as legal battles over immigration enforcement persist. With cartels expanding their influence beyond the southern border, law enforcement agencies remain under pressure to disrupt these networks before they further entrench themselves in American communities.
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