ICE Storms Cartel-Run Nightclub, Arrests 72 Migrants Including Murder Suspect

Federal immigration officials executed a major raid on an underground nightclub in Summerville, South Carolina, early Sunday morning, detaining more than 70 undocumented migrants and arresting a Honduran fugitive wanted for homicide. According to the Department of Homeland Security, agents discovered “The Alamo” nightclub packed with patrons at around 3 a.m., where they also recovered firearms, large amounts of cash, and identified several potential trafficking victims, including a missing juvenile. Disturbingly, law enforcement reported locating teenagers as young as 13 years old consuming alcohol inside the club.

The owner of the establishment, Benjamin Reyna-Flores, is alleged to be a member of the notorious Los Zetas Cartel—now operating under the name Cártel del Noreste (CDN)—which was formally designated as a foreign terrorist organization in recent years. Authorities say Reyna-Flores now faces a battery of both state and federal charges in connection with the illegal activities uncovered during the raid.

This enforcement action concluded a lengthy investigation, dubbed Operation Last Stand, that targeted the nightclub as a suspected hub for illicit drugs, weapons, and human trafficking. The sweep involved approximately 200 law enforcement officers from 14 agencies, reflecting the scale and complexity of the operation. In total, authorities made 80 arrests, including that of Sergio Joel Galo-Baca, an undocumented Honduran national flagged by INTERPOL for homicide charges in his home country. The operation was spearheaded by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Charlotte, working closely with local law enforcement.

DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin praised the coordinated efforts, emphasizing the daily commitment of ICE and its partners to community safety. “Under President Trump and Secretary [Kristi] Noem, fugitives and law-breakers are on notice: Leave now or ICE will find you and deport you,” McLaughlin said in a statement underscoring the administration’s tough stance on immigration enforcement.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster echoed these sentiments, noting that suspected members of the Tren de Aragua gang were also apprehended during the operation. “This is what years of open borders got us, but now things have changed,” McMaster stated on social media. He vowed that similar investigations would continue to target and remove criminal elements from the state.

Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie revealed that law enforcement's interest in the club began last November following persistent noise complaints. These complaints eventually led investigators to uncover deeper criminal activity tied to cartel operations. On the night of the raid, officers entered the venue with 116 arrest warrants — both for criminal offenses and immigration violations — and successfully served 80 of those warrants to a mix of citizens and non-citizens.

Authorities highlighted that among those arrested were two individuals described as “high-level cartel members,” a number expected to rise as the investigation continues. Deputy Administrator Eric Watson described the environment inside as a “cartel afterparty,” illustrating the brazenness of the operation within local communities.

Witnesses present at The Alamo recounted moments of chaos as hundreds of law enforcement personnel stormed the club. “I saw dancing, I saw people smiling, having a good time and then boom. It all went to chaos,” one witness recalled. Officers reportedly gave commands in both English and Spanish, rounding up everyone inside for questioning and detainment that lasted up to two hours, according to eyewitness accounts.

In the aftermath, Sheriff Ritchie confirmed that some suspects now face additional charges for assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, possession of controlled substances, and illegal possession of firearms. The raid, authorities say, marks a significant blow against organized crime networks operating within South Carolina and sends a clear message regarding the state’s zero-tolerance approach to criminal migration and cartel infiltration.