A recent collaboration among various law enforcement agencies at a nightclub in Charleston, South Carolina, led to the arrest of 80 individuals suspected of being in the country illegally, as reported by Republican Governor Henry McMaster.
In a post on X, McMaster detailed the operation, which was carried out in partnership with ICE, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. “We conducted a highly successful sting operation targeting criminal illegal immigrants, resulting in 80 arrests,” he stated.
Authorities noted that this enforcement action took place early Sunday at the Alamo nightclub, which was operating without a license. Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie explained that the investigation began in November 2024 due to numerous noise complaints and suspicions of drug-related activities, assaults, and money laundering at the venue.
During what they called “Operation Last Stand,” law enforcement executed 116 arrest warrants, including both criminal and immigration-related, with 80 of those ultimately being served. Ritchie mentioned that there were over 200 individuals present at the nightclub, highlighting the significant presence of criminal elements within.
Among those arrested, authorities identified two members of high-level drug cartels, specifically affiliated with the Los Zetas cartel and the Tren de Aragua gang. They also indicated that investigations into additional affiliations are ongoing. Furthermore, several potential trafficking victims were aided, and a missing juvenile was located at the scene.
Ritchie also mentioned the execution of an international warrant for a murder suspect from Honduras, wanted by Interpol.
In addition to the arrests, law enforcement discovered underage patrons being served alcohol; one of the youngest was just 13 years old. Weapons and suspected narcotics were seized from the nightclub, which are currently being analyzed.
Governor McMaster, present at the press conference, lauded the efforts of both the sheriff and the Trump administration, expressing that they were fulfilling their promises. He reflected on the escalation of criminal activities revealed through the sting operation, attributing some of it to insufficient law enforcement. “When you don’t have strong law enforcement, this is what happens,” McMaster asserted, linking the issues to illegal immigration and criminal backgrounds of some individuals crossing the border.
The governor emphasized his belief that the current situation would not exist with proper enforcement. He stated that South Carolina boasts some of the best law enforcement in the country, especially with federal support.
This operation followed ICE’s recent report of over 1,400 illegal migrant arrests in Massachusetts during a month-long initiative called “Operation Patriot.” Many of those detained were reportedly involved in serious crimes, including drug trafficking and homicide.
The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the participation of 14 agencies in the operation but declined to comment further on the active investigation. They included entities like the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service. Governor McMaster’s office reiterated his statements from the press conference without offering further commentary. There was no response from SLED by the time of this reporting.
