DENVER — In a sit-down interview with Denver7 Investigates, the special agent in charge (SAC) for the Rocky Mountain Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration revealed the agency has arrested more than 90 people in less than three weeks.
SAC Jonathan Pullen said the arrests happened over the course of more than a dozen operations.
"The people that are being arrested, very many of them are serious criminals," he said.
In the DEA's office on Wednesday, two signs were displayed showing drugs, weapons, and the "top ten arrests" made by the administration in the last two-and-a-half weeks. Several of the people were identified as members of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua (TdA).
"There's more people than this that we can't show you that are even worse criminals, child sexual predators involved in drug trafficking and gun trafficking, but we have ongoing and active investigations still pending against those people. So we won't show you everybody," said Pullen.
A large push came on Jan. 29 when the DEA, among other federal agencies, conducted four separate Denver-area operations.
- Watch Denver7 Investigates' full interview with Pullen in the video player below
The DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division confirmed it took one suspected member of TdA into custody at the infamous Edge of Lowry apartments in Aurora during the January raids. The Commerce City Police Department later identified the man as Henry Vargas.
Some federal agencies have faced criticism, including the DEA, following a federal operation spanning multiple cities that unfolded on Feb. 5.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) said the February operation was targeting more than 100 members of the TdA, according to a post on X. Denver7 confirmed one TdA member was taken into custody during that operation.
100+ members of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua were targeted for arrest and detention in Aurora, Colo., today by ICE and its partners @FBI @DEAHQ @CBP @ATFHQ & @USMarshalsHQ in an ongoing investigation. pic.twitter.com/AnUghDPFDW
— HSI Denver covering CO, WY, UT & MT (@HSIDenver) February 5, 2025
"We expected to get more, but what we found was that they weren't where we expected them to be, and I think (it's) because we're putting pressure on them," said Pullen.
When asked if he believed the theory that local media outlets leaked the raid, Pullen said, "It's possible."
"I think it could have been a factor. I know there were some embedded stations involved, but I think largely, it's likely that the pressure that we've put on these folks over the last several weeks has encouraged them to hide more," Pullen continued.
