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Early Sunday morning, federal immigration agents conducted a raid on a nightclub in South Carolina that was allegedly run by a drug cartel. They arrested over 70 undocumented immigrants, including a Honduran fugitive sought for murder, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security.
The venue, known as The Alamo, is an underground nightclub located in Summerville. It was crowded around 3 a.m. when officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) entered, seizing weapons, large amounts of cash, apprehending seven potential trafficking victims, and locating a missing teenager. Local police reported that minors as young as 13 were found consuming alcohol inside the establishment.
The owner of the nightclub, Benjamin Reyna-Flores, is suspected of being affiliated with the Los Zetas Cartel, also referred to as Cártel del Noreste (CDN). This group was officially labeled a terrorist organization by the Trump Administration in February, according to Homeland Security. He now faces charges at both the state and federal levels.
Federal immigration agents raided a cartel-operated nightclub in South Carolina early Sunday, arresting more than 70 illegal migrants, including a Honduran fugitive wanted for homicide, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
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This raid was part of an extensive investigation into the nightclub, which officials indicated was a central hub for drug, weapon, and human trafficking. Codenamed “Operation Last Stand,” the operation involved around 200 law enforcement officers from 14 different agencies.
In total, 80 individuals were arrested. Among them was a high-profile detainee, Sergio Joel Galo-Baca, a Honduran national who is a fugitive with an active INTERPOL Red Notice for homicide in Honduras. The operation was led by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Charlotte, in collaboration with local law enforcement.
DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Tricia McLaughlin, commended the success of the operation.
“Every single day, the dedicated teams at ICE work alongside local police to ensure the safety of American communities,” McLaughlin stated. “Under President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem, criminals and fugitives are being warned: Leave now, or ICE will track you down and deport you.”
The nightclub is situated off Highway 78.
Seven potential trafficking victims and a missing juvenile were discovered. (Homeland Security)
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South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster echoed McLaughlin’s sentiments, noting that members of the Tren de Aragua gang were also taken into custody.
“This is the outcome of years of ineffective border policies, but we are now making changes,” McMaster commented on X. “We will continue conducting investigations like this to eliminate these criminals from South Carolina.”
Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie shared that law enforcement has been collecting information about this case since November, when deputies began investigating after receiving multiple noise complaints.
Officers entered the nightclub with 116 arrest warrants, related to both criminal and immigration issues. Ritchie explained that they managed to execute 80 of these warrants. Some of those arrested were U.S. citizens, while others were not.
Among those detained were two high-ranking members of the cartel, and Sheriff Ritchie expects this number to rise.
Deputy Administrator Eric Watson characterized the scene as a “cartel afterparty.”
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster praised the operation and said that Tren de Aragua gang members were also arrested. (Joshua Boucher/The State/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Two witnesses, David Herrera and Destiny Tinoco, recounted how the nightclub was suddenly overwhelmed by agents and deputies issuing commands, with some translating into Spanish.
“I saw people dancing, smiling, enjoying themselves, and then everything turned to chaos,” Herrera expressed to WCSC. “A swarm of agents arrived from different agencies, pointing guns and yelling orders, telling everyone to get down and raise their hands, essentially detaining everyone in the place for about an hour and a half, maybe two hours. Some people approached them, saying, ‘I have kids at home.’
Sheriff Ritchie noted that some of those arrested face charges including assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, drug possession, and illegal firearm possession.
