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DEA targets money laundering operations in Denver, Colorado Springs

Anti-narcotics federal agents conducted raids in Denver and Colorado Springs on Wednesday, hinting the operations focused on rooting out money-laundering activities.

Authorities divulged few details.

“The DEA Rocky Mountain Field Division, along with our partners from Homeland Security Investigations, FBI, IRS, and our state and local partners conducted law enforcement operations in the Denver and Colorado Springs areas today,” the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Rocky Mountain Division said in a statement late Wednesday.

Agents in Colorado Springs seized a phone, bags of cash and computers from multiple El Ranchito restaurant-grocery store locations. 

“It seems like they’re trying to accuse us of money laundering or drugs, but there’s absolutely nothing illegal going on here,” said David Heurta, an accountant for the business. “It’s just harassment.”

Authorities declined to provide specific information as to what the raids were about.

Witnesses said a dozen or so law enforcement officials entered one of the El Ranchito locations in Colorado Springs Wednesday. A Gazette reporter saw at least four DEA agents carrying a box with papers inside it.

Wednesday’s investigations follow other actions by federal officials, including Aug. 7, when the DEA executed two search warrants at an apartment complex in eastern Colorado Springs that was allegedly being used to distribute drugs by Mexican cartel members, and July 31 when a housing development in Black Forest was raided by ICE operatives. 

The FBI and DEA have not responded to requests for comment about the Denver raid. The Aurora Police Department confirmed it assisted federal authorities but did not provide additional information.

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