Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And this is my old friend, and I do mean
old Stephan Tubbs, who for a long time, many many
years said in the same seat that I sit in
at KOA as co host of Colorado Morning News. He's
also a fantastic maker of documentary films and now he's
the public affairs officer for the Rocky Mountain Field Division
(00:23):
of the DEA, the Drug Enforcement Agency. And you guys
have been a little busy lately, Stefan.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, Ross is good to be on with you. I
appreciate the invite. I know we've been working on this
for a while, so it's good. Yeah. At DEA it
has been extremely busy. Our special Agent in charge is
fond of saying, you know, our foot is firmly on
the gas pedal. And I think unless you've been under
a rock, you have seen over the last month or so,
(00:52):
not only DEA, but our federal partners as well, kind
of having a reviewed focus on those that are peddling
the drugs that are killing our kids.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
How much of a change not just in operations, but in.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Mood in the office.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
How would you describe that change when moving from President
Biden to President Trump.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
You know, if I were sitting next to my special
agent in charge. And you asked that question, I'd say,
don't answer that a loaded question. Uh huh. There is
a renewed there's a renewed focus. But the one thing
that I have really tried to tell especially some how
shall I say, onre members of the media in the
Death metro area, is look, these investigations were going on
(01:47):
last year. Some have been more than a year in
the making. I mean, is there a renewed focus. Absolutely,
Is there more of a focus on working together with
our federal partners and you know, primarily Immigration and Customs
Enforcement or ICE and RO. Absolutely, But you know the
investigations that culminated really that started, I guess this new
(02:11):
wave was January twenty sixth, and I know you're aware
of this. That was that makeshift nightclub in Adams County
where the dea federal search warrant was executed at five
am at this location and about fifty people were inside.
I mean, that investigation. Sure, it happens with a raid
(02:31):
six days into the Trump administration, but that investigation ross
was going on at least since last summer. So I know,
I appreciate the question that all of a sudden Trump
is inaugurated and DEA is now allowed to do its job.
But that's just not the case.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
We've been doing it.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
You know, every four to eight years there's a change
in administration. And certainly the foot though is firmly on
the gas right now.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
All right, So you touched on something that was actually
going to be my next question. Describe to us a
little bit the behind the scenes as much as you
can with it.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
You know, I can tell you, but I'd have to
kill you.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Describe as much as you can how it's decided which
agencies go on which enforcement actions, and.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
How you partner.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah, that's a great question, right, And I think a
lot of people that are anti government, anti first maybe
they first and foremost their anti ice, right, they feel
like ice and e ro homeland security. We're going in
and I mean I've seen the story. I mean, look,
I'm a newsman at heart, right, and I've seen the
(03:37):
news coverage of the fears of we're going into third
grade classrooms, or I say we as in the federal government.
We're going into the classroom. We're going into and we're
taking grandma away from the stove as she's making breakfast.
To deporter that's just not the case. And I can
say this with certainty. Though the Drug Enforcement Administration has
(04:01):
now Title eight authority, which is immigration, we have been
solely focused on the criminal drug traffickers in the state
of Colorado and in our four state region Colorado, Utah, Wyoming,
and Montana.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So does this mean focusing.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
On does that mean that if there is a raid
where there's not drug activity and drug criminals expected to.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Be involved, then you won't be involved if.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
There is a raid that might have that Like, Okay,
let me let me word it this way.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
I know where you're going with this, and let me
just answer. I know exactly what you're trying to say
at all, right, and the point and again it's a
fair question. Under under DOJ Department of Justice, we now
at DEA have Title eight immigration authority that does give
us the ability to go on a raid or an
(04:57):
operation with ICE or e ro O. I can tell
you that that has happened, to the best of my knowledge,
not in Colorado. But this this is not just the
wild West. And we just decide, you know, three weeks
ago that we're going to do this. This is this
is you know, the authority is granted Title eight. But
(05:22):
right now, in the state of Colorado, all the raids
that I have been a part of, and and and
get on with with our men and women that have
had these investigations going for months, if not more than
a year, they have been focused on the criminal drug
traffickers or those associated with that kind of activity.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I'm gonna paraphrase a listener question that I already forwarded
you buy email, but I'm going to generalize it a
little bit more. When you go on raids in Denver,
does Denver law enforcement ever take part?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Boom, I'll tell you we just did. What was the date?
It was January twenty seventh. We were near Quebec and
Leachsdale again federal search warrant. We made entry. Two illegals
connected with the Sinaloa cartel were inside. Inside we found
crack cocaine, regular cocaine, and one hundred and thirty thousand
(06:21):
Sentinel pills RUSS. That is a potential of sixty five
thousand deadly doses off the streets. We were out there
acting on that federal search warrant, and you can surmise
who was out there and who was not. Because of
the location we're talking.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
About a listener wants to know.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Roughly what percentage of the drugs and the people that
you're getting are related specifically to trende arragua, which is,
you know, become a famous gang these days.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Yeah, I think that's a fair question as well. I
would say a low percentage are TDA connected. However, I'm
going to say this to you as a friend, as
a newsman, I'm stepping out of my dea role for
a second. If anyone out there is going to say
you only got one member of TDA, for example, I
(07:20):
think you're sorely misguided. These individuals you do not want
driving in the parking lot of your grocery store. You
don't want them living in the apartment down the street.
You don't want to have them live in the house
next door. So I would just say, as you know,
a proud longtime resident of Colorado, if you even hear
(07:40):
of one TDA member that's off the streets and maybe
either going to face prosecution, whether it's state, local, or
you know, state or federal, that's a good thing. I
don't know the media aspect of, you know, trying to
label these things as failures. I do know that it
didn't help that you know, there was a number that
(08:03):
was put out there a couple of weeks ago that
you know or that that certain federal agencies were targeting
x amount. I mean, that's just kind of you don't
want to do that because then anything, if you if
you fall short, you're going to be looked at by
some as a failure. But I can tell you that
the people that have been deported connected with DEEA investigations,
(08:26):
these people we initially were on them so to speak,
for drug charges, bringing drugs either into the country illegally
and then peddling them. I mean we still got to
you still got to remember, friends listening, there were more
than one hundred thousand Americans last year that died of
either fentanyl poisoning or drug overdose poisoning. One hundred thousand plus.
(08:52):
So I would say again concern Colorado and resident here
that any any any dent in that is a good
is a good thing.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
I'm curious whether your enforcement actions have their effectiveness put
at risk based on prosecutor's decisions. And so my first
question for you is when you go arrest people. You're
a federal agency, but are the people you arrest always
(09:23):
facing federal charges or are they sometimes facing state charges
or both?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Or how does that work?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yes, yeah, the case can either be taken federally or
it can be taken at the state level, and we
see that all the time. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Okay, So there was a story a couple of weeks
ago and a listener just asked me the same question.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
I'll just read the headline from Denver seven.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
None of the forty nine detainees and in Adams County
DEA raid are facing charges. And the sub had the
Adams County District Attorney's office told Denver seven that no agency,
local or federal has brought forth a report from that
operation to consider filing charges.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So that thing made a lot of news.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
And it might be the one that you mentioned a
few minutes ago. And it sounds like when you got there,
all these criminals sort of dropped their stuff and ran
away based on this news report.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
But what do we need to know?
Speaker 2 (10:22):
So I'm so glad you asked. So certain members of
the media decided that the headline was not getting forty
one potential dangerous people off the streets. Instead, the headline was, well,
the DEA raids this nightclub and no drug charges were
brought up. I'm going to tell you right now as
a newsman, fairpoint. Wait a minute, the DEA Drug Enforcement Administration.
(10:47):
I'm going to execute a federal search warrant at a
makeshift nightclub with fifty people inside, and no one was
charged with drugs. That's a fair question. I have a
great retort and answer.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
When they made entry.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
About five am on the early Sunday morning, eight degrees outside,
there's fifty people at five am who just decided to
go clubbing and partying, arriving at four am. I mean,
no judgment, I guess, but those people who were in
that Adams County location were either TDA members or TDA
gang associates. This was invite only. Okay, So I want
(11:23):
to paint a quick picture for you. You've got five am,
it's eight degrees outside. Inside, you've got drug use, potential prostitution.
You've got a bar that was set up, you've got
a DJ booth, you've got the music pumping, you've got
the lighting that would be you know, conducive to a
club type setting. There are tables, there are couches, and
(11:45):
when when federal agents make entry into that, I will
say this, and we've talked about it. Those potential criminals inside.
I mean, forty one of the forty nine or fifty
that were taken into custody were in the country illegally.
I don't know what part of in the country illegally.
(12:05):
The local media does not understand that that is a crime.
You're in the country illegally. But when that entry was
made ross, what do you think happened? The smart ones,
which I believe were of all of them, they had
personal quantity, you know, user quantity drugs on them. They
(12:26):
had cocaine, they had crack cocaine, they had two cy
the pink cocaine which is connected a lot with TDA,
and they simply threw all the drugs on the floor.
We found a handgun thrown behind the couch. That's what
you do when I mean, it's like, I'm not trying
to be funny, but you know when you were eighteen
or sixteen or whatever, and you're having a party that
(12:48):
the parents don't know about and there's a pounding on
the door, somebody screams the cops are here.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
What do you do?
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Put down the drink? And that's what happened.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
So I know the sensation are they going to get
deported anyway.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
They may have already been deported.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Okay, So just a question.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
The fact that did the fact that because they separated
themselves from the evidence means that that you couldn't bring
drug charges against them that you thought would stick, doesn't
mean that they, you know, got off scott free and they're.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Still running around around Adams County.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
They absolutely did not. Forty one of the forty nine
were placed on the ice bus that was out there.
And maybe you've seen video, certainly on our social media
account that got hundreds of thousands of views. But I
just I'm not even gonna name a county, but you
did a prosecutor that got listened, a prosecutor that got
Let's just say, I'm a special agent, which I'm not.
(13:47):
I bring a little baggie of user quantity cocaine, not good, illegal,
but I bring that to a deputy district attorney. What
do you think that deputy district attorney Ross is gonna
tell me?
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Yeah, I have bigger fish fry or we're not able.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
How do you expect us to prosecute? So I would
just say, just because a district attorney's office is saying, hey,
we didn't know about it. That does not mean that
if we did bring the Ziplock baggie of Tucy, that
that case would have been prosecuted, because to me, that
would be a defense attorney's dream proved that that was
my client's sile. But what we can prove is that
(14:25):
your client was in the country illegally. Therefore, we have
one potential drug dealer, drug user who is now going
to be deported because they are or were in the
country illegally.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
We're talking with Stephan Tubb's former longtime KOA host and
now public affairs officer for the Rocky Mountain Field Division
of the DEA. Just a few more minutes with you, Stefan.
I want to ask you a couple of sort of
personal personal questions. What's it like, what's it like going
on a raid? And do you ever feel that like
you're in danger?
Speaker 2 (15:03):
I mean it's exhilarating, right, I mean, just like when
I was at KOA and would go out on a
breaking U story. I mean there's that that kind of
you know, rush of adrenaline for certain I can tell you,
and this sounds like a company line, but it's absolutely true.
I'm just honored and I'm so lucky to work with
(15:24):
men and women here and across our three other states
that are dedicated to this fight, to trying to you know,
they're trying every day to make the streets safer. I
can tell you it. It's amazing what how much work
is going on behind the scenes, how many raids or
(15:47):
surveillance operations that the public will never know about. And
as far as safety, I mean absolutely, I mean I'm
out there without I'm a guy without a weapon, and
you know, they take great care to make sure of
my safety. But I'm also not in the front. But
i want to document and you know, I will say
(16:08):
this ross we have said on the you know, in
various places in the media over the last you know
month at least, is like it's kind of like there's
a new day at DBA. They've given me the opportunity to,
I think, show more of what we are doing, and
I think we really have led the way, you know,
in Colorado and then in our division, and you're seeing
(16:30):
a change in the way DEA divisions are actually communicating
with the people that that they serve. And so I'm
really really proud to be a part of it. And
you know, it may be a war that some people say,
you know, just know that it's a It's a consistent battle,
and there are very good men and women that are
dedicated to trying to make sure that your family is
(16:53):
not devastated from the scourge of drugs.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Tom Holman, who doesn't run your organization, but you guys,
interact with ICE a lot, has made a lot of
comments about sanctuary cities, sanctuary states, and Colorado and Denver
are always near the top of that conversation, and he
makes some interesting claims that I'm mostly inclined to agree
(17:16):
with about how the sanctuary stuff actually increases a level
of danger for.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Civilians.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
I like, if the bad guys can't be picked up
at the jail because the cops won't say, hey, we're
releasing this illegal alien fellon who just finished his prison sentence,
then he goes back into the community and you have
to go extract him from the community, or ICE does so.
My question for you, specifically with DEA and I realize
you're not Ice, but you have immigration authority. Now, does
the sanctuary stuff actually impact your world? Or is that
(17:51):
somewhat overstated by homean or is it understated that's.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
A really good question and a tough one. I would say,
from just what I have seen, if we have an
investigation that culminates with the request to the United States
Attorney's Office to get a federal search warrant, that will
be executed regardless of what anybody says about a certain
(18:16):
city or state's status. If that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Yeah, I think I think you're trying to give a
gentle answer because it's your No.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I listen, I'm still kind of a new ross. I mean,
it's like thirteen months on the job. I still want
a job. If you'd like, if you'd like to go
for a beer, I'll tell you what I really think.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Oh my gosh. All right, we're gonna leave it there.
Stephen Tubbs is public. I'm coughing on my tea because
you made me laugh so hard.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Stephen Tubbs is.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
The better brother. And I thank you listeners. Know that
you know you're you're really you're you're really trudging through
the crud. So I appreciate the time, my brother, and
thank you as then I'll come on with you anytime.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Thanks so much. Appreciate your time and stay safe out there, Stefan.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Thanks brother,
And this is my old friend, and I do mean
old Stephan Tubbs, who for a long time, many many
years said in the same seat that I sit in
at KOA as co host of Colorado Morning News. He's
also a fantastic maker of documentary films and now he's
the public affairs officer for the Rocky Mountain Field Division
(00:23):
of the DEA, the Drug Enforcement Agency. And you guys
have been a little busy lately, Stefan.
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yeah, Ross is good to be on with you. I
appreciate the invite. I know we've been working on this
for a while, so it's good. Yeah. At DEA it
has been extremely busy. Our special Agent in charge is
fond of saying, you know, our foot is firmly on
the gas pedal. And I think unless you've been under
a rock, you have seen over the last month or so,
(00:52):
not only DEA, but our federal partners as well, kind
of having a reviewed focus on those that are peddling
the drugs that are killing our kids.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
How much of a change not just in operations, but in.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Mood in the office.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
How would you describe that change when moving from President
Biden to President Trump.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
You know, if I were sitting next to my special
agent in charge. And you asked that question, I'd say,
don't answer that a loaded question. Uh huh. There is
a renewed there's a renewed focus. But the one thing
that I have really tried to tell especially some how
shall I say, onre members of the media in the
Death metro area, is look, these investigations were going on
(01:47):
last year. Some have been more than a year in
the making. I mean, is there a renewed focus. Absolutely,
Is there more of a focus on working together with
our federal partners and you know, primarily Immigration and Customs
Enforcement or ICE and RO. Absolutely, But you know the
investigations that culminated really that started, I guess this new
(02:11):
wave was January twenty sixth, and I know you're aware
of this. That was that makeshift nightclub in Adams County
where the dea federal search warrant was executed at five
am at this location and about fifty people were inside.
I mean, that investigation. Sure, it happens with a raid
(02:31):
six days into the Trump administration, but that investigation ross
was going on at least since last summer. So I know,
I appreciate the question that all of a sudden Trump
is inaugurated and DEA is now allowed to do its job.
But that's just not the case.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
We've been doing it.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
You know, every four to eight years there's a change
in administration. And certainly the foot though is firmly on
the gas right now.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
All right, So you touched on something that was actually
going to be my next question. Describe to us a
little bit the behind the scenes as much as you
can with it.
Speaker 3 (03:05):
You know, I can tell you, but I'd have to
kill you.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Describe as much as you can how it's decided which
agencies go on which enforcement actions, and.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
How you partner.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Yeah, that's a great question, right, And I think a
lot of people that are anti government, anti first maybe
they first and foremost their anti ice, right, they feel
like ice and e ro homeland security. We're going in
and I mean I've seen the story. I mean, look,
I'm a newsman at heart, right, and I've seen the
(03:37):
news coverage of the fears of we're going into third
grade classrooms, or I say we as in the federal government.
We're going into the classroom. We're going into and we're
taking grandma away from the stove as she's making breakfast.
To deporter that's just not the case. And I can
say this with certainty. Though the Drug Enforcement Administration has
(04:01):
now Title eight authority, which is immigration, we have been
solely focused on the criminal drug traffickers in the state
of Colorado and in our four state region Colorado, Utah, Wyoming,
and Montana.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
So does this mean focusing.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
On does that mean that if there is a raid
where there's not drug activity and drug criminals expected to.
Speaker 3 (04:27):
Be involved, then you won't be involved if.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
There is a raid that might have that Like, Okay,
let me let me word it this way.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
I know where you're going with this, and let me
just answer. I know exactly what you're trying to say
at all, right, and the point and again it's a
fair question. Under under DOJ Department of Justice, we now
at DEA have Title eight immigration authority that does give
us the ability to go on a raid or an
(04:57):
operation with ICE or e ro O. I can tell
you that that has happened, to the best of my knowledge,
not in Colorado. But this this is not just the
wild West. And we just decide, you know, three weeks
ago that we're going to do this. This is this
is you know, the authority is granted Title eight. But
(05:22):
right now, in the state of Colorado, all the raids
that I have been a part of, and and and
get on with with our men and women that have
had these investigations going for months, if not more than
a year, they have been focused on the criminal drug
traffickers or those associated with that kind of activity.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I'm gonna paraphrase a listener question that I already forwarded
you buy email, but I'm going to generalize it a
little bit more. When you go on raids in Denver,
does Denver law enforcement ever take part?
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Boom, I'll tell you we just did. What was the date?
It was January twenty seventh. We were near Quebec and
Leachsdale again federal search warrant. We made entry. Two illegals
connected with the Sinaloa cartel were inside. Inside we found
crack cocaine, regular cocaine, and one hundred and thirty thousand
(06:21):
Sentinel pills RUSS. That is a potential of sixty five
thousand deadly doses off the streets. We were out there
acting on that federal search warrant, and you can surmise
who was out there and who was not. Because of
the location we're talking.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
About a listener wants to know.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Roughly what percentage of the drugs and the people that
you're getting are related specifically to trende arragua, which is,
you know, become a famous gang these days.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Yeah, I think that's a fair question as well. I
would say a low percentage are TDA connected. However, I'm
going to say this to you as a friend, as
a newsman, I'm stepping out of my dea role for
a second. If anyone out there is going to say
you only got one member of TDA, for example, I
(07:20):
think you're sorely misguided. These individuals you do not want
driving in the parking lot of your grocery store. You
don't want them living in the apartment down the street.
You don't want to have them live in the house
next door. So I would just say, as you know,
a proud longtime resident of Colorado, if you even hear
(07:40):
of one TDA member that's off the streets and maybe
either going to face prosecution, whether it's state, local, or
you know, state or federal, that's a good thing. I
don't know the media aspect of, you know, trying to
label these things as failures. I do know that it
didn't help that you know, there was a number that
(08:03):
was put out there a couple of weeks ago that
you know or that that certain federal agencies were targeting
x amount. I mean, that's just kind of you don't
want to do that because then anything, if you if
you fall short, you're going to be looked at by
some as a failure. But I can tell you that
the people that have been deported connected with DEEA investigations,
(08:26):
these people we initially were on them so to speak,
for drug charges, bringing drugs either into the country illegally
and then peddling them. I mean we still got to
you still got to remember, friends listening, there were more
than one hundred thousand Americans last year that died of
either fentanyl poisoning or drug overdose poisoning. One hundred thousand plus.
(08:52):
So I would say again concern Colorado and resident here
that any any any dent in that is a good
is a good thing.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
I'm curious whether your enforcement actions have their effectiveness put
at risk based on prosecutor's decisions. And so my first
question for you is when you go arrest people. You're
a federal agency, but are the people you arrest always
(09:23):
facing federal charges or are they sometimes facing state charges
or both?
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Or how does that work?
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Yes, yeah, the case can either be taken federally or
it can be taken at the state level, and we
see that all the time. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Okay, So there was a story a couple of weeks
ago and a listener just asked me the same question.
Speaker 3 (09:46):
I'll just read the headline from Denver seven.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
None of the forty nine detainees and in Adams County
DEA raid are facing charges. And the sub had the
Adams County District Attorney's office told Denver seven that no agency,
local or federal has brought forth a report from that
operation to consider filing charges.
Speaker 3 (10:04):
So that thing made a lot of news.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
And it might be the one that you mentioned a
few minutes ago. And it sounds like when you got there,
all these criminals sort of dropped their stuff and ran
away based on this news report.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
But what do we need to know?
Speaker 2 (10:22):
So I'm so glad you asked. So certain members of
the media decided that the headline was not getting forty
one potential dangerous people off the streets. Instead, the headline was, well,
the DEA raids this nightclub and no drug charges were
brought up. I'm going to tell you right now as
a newsman, fairpoint. Wait a minute, the DEA Drug Enforcement Administration.
(10:47):
I'm going to execute a federal search warrant at a
makeshift nightclub with fifty people inside, and no one was
charged with drugs. That's a fair question. I have a
great retort and answer.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
When they made entry.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
About five am on the early Sunday morning, eight degrees outside,
there's fifty people at five am who just decided to
go clubbing and partying, arriving at four am. I mean,
no judgment, I guess, but those people who were in
that Adams County location were either TDA members or TDA
gang associates. This was invite only. Okay, So I want
(11:23):
to paint a quick picture for you. You've got five am,
it's eight degrees outside. Inside, you've got drug use, potential prostitution.
You've got a bar that was set up, you've got
a DJ booth, you've got the music pumping, you've got
the lighting that would be you know, conducive to a
club type setting. There are tables, there are couches, and
(11:45):
when when federal agents make entry into that, I will
say this, and we've talked about it. Those potential criminals inside.
I mean, forty one of the forty nine or fifty
that were taken into custody were in the country illegally.
I don't know what part of in the country illegally.
(12:05):
The local media does not understand that that is a crime.
You're in the country illegally. But when that entry was
made ross, what do you think happened? The smart ones,
which I believe were of all of them, they had
personal quantity, you know, user quantity drugs on them. They
(12:26):
had cocaine, they had crack cocaine, they had two cy
the pink cocaine which is connected a lot with TDA,
and they simply threw all the drugs on the floor.
We found a handgun thrown behind the couch. That's what
you do when I mean, it's like, I'm not trying
to be funny, but you know when you were eighteen
or sixteen or whatever, and you're having a party that
(12:48):
the parents don't know about and there's a pounding on
the door, somebody screams the cops are here.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
What do you do?
Speaker 2 (12:54):
Put down the drink? And that's what happened.
Speaker 1 (12:58):
So I know the sensation are they going to get
deported anyway.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
They may have already been deported.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
Okay, So just a question.
Speaker 1 (13:06):
The fact that did the fact that because they separated
themselves from the evidence means that that you couldn't bring
drug charges against them that you thought would stick, doesn't
mean that they, you know, got off scott free and they're.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Still running around around Adams County.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
They absolutely did not. Forty one of the forty nine
were placed on the ice bus that was out there.
And maybe you've seen video, certainly on our social media
account that got hundreds of thousands of views. But I
just I'm not even gonna name a county, but you
did a prosecutor that got listened, a prosecutor that got
Let's just say, I'm a special agent, which I'm not.
(13:47):
I bring a little baggie of user quantity cocaine, not good, illegal,
but I bring that to a deputy district attorney. What
do you think that deputy district attorney Ross is gonna
tell me?
Speaker 3 (13:59):
Yeah, I have bigger fish fry or we're not able.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
How do you expect us to prosecute? So I would
just say, just because a district attorney's office is saying, hey,
we didn't know about it. That does not mean that
if we did bring the Ziplock baggie of Tucy, that
that case would have been prosecuted, because to me, that
would be a defense attorney's dream proved that that was
my client's sile. But what we can prove is that
(14:25):
your client was in the country illegally. Therefore, we have
one potential drug dealer, drug user who is now going
to be deported because they are or were in the
country illegally.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
We're talking with Stephan Tubb's former longtime KOA host and
now public affairs officer for the Rocky Mountain Field Division
of the DEA. Just a few more minutes with you, Stefan.
I want to ask you a couple of sort of
personal personal questions. What's it like, what's it like going
on a raid? And do you ever feel that like
you're in danger?
Speaker 2 (15:03):
I mean it's exhilarating, right, I mean, just like when
I was at KOA and would go out on a
breaking U story. I mean there's that that kind of
you know, rush of adrenaline for certain I can tell you,
and this sounds like a company line, but it's absolutely true.
I'm just honored and I'm so lucky to work with
(15:24):
men and women here and across our three other states
that are dedicated to this fight, to trying to you know,
they're trying every day to make the streets safer. I
can tell you it. It's amazing what how much work
is going on behind the scenes, how many raids or
(15:47):
surveillance operations that the public will never know about. And
as far as safety, I mean absolutely, I mean I'm
out there without I'm a guy without a weapon, and
you know, they take great care to make sure of
my safety. But I'm also not in the front. But
i want to document and you know, I will say
(16:08):
this ross we have said on the you know, in
various places in the media over the last you know
month at least, is like it's kind of like there's
a new day at DBA. They've given me the opportunity to,
I think, show more of what we are doing, and
I think we really have led the way, you know,
in Colorado and then in our division, and you're seeing
(16:30):
a change in the way DEA divisions are actually communicating
with the people that that they serve. And so I'm
really really proud to be a part of it. And
you know, it may be a war that some people say,
you know, just know that it's a It's a consistent battle,
and there are very good men and women that are
dedicated to trying to make sure that your family is
(16:53):
not devastated from the scourge of drugs.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Tom Holman, who doesn't run your organization, but you guys,
interact with ICE a lot, has made a lot of
comments about sanctuary cities, sanctuary states, and Colorado and Denver
are always near the top of that conversation, and he
makes some interesting claims that I'm mostly inclined to agree
(17:16):
with about how the sanctuary stuff actually increases a level
of danger for.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Civilians.
Speaker 1 (17:26):
I like, if the bad guys can't be picked up
at the jail because the cops won't say, hey, we're
releasing this illegal alien fellon who just finished his prison sentence,
then he goes back into the community and you have
to go extract him from the community, or ICE does so.
My question for you, specifically with DEA and I realize
you're not Ice, but you have immigration authority. Now, does
the sanctuary stuff actually impact your world? Or is that
(17:51):
somewhat overstated by homean or is it understated that's.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
A really good question and a tough one. I would say,
from just what I have seen, if we have an
investigation that culminates with the request to the United States
Attorney's Office to get a federal search warrant, that will
be executed regardless of what anybody says about a certain
(18:16):
city or state's status. If that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
Yeah, I think I think you're trying to give a
gentle answer because it's your No.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I listen, I'm still kind of a new ross. I mean,
it's like thirteen months on the job. I still want
a job. If you'd like, if you'd like to go
for a beer, I'll tell you what I really think.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
Oh my gosh. All right, we're gonna leave it there.
Stephen Tubbs is public. I'm coughing on my tea because
you made me laugh so hard.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Stephen Tubbs is.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
The better brother. And I thank you listeners. Know that
you know you're you're really you're you're really trudging through
the crud. So I appreciate the time, my brother, and
thank you as then I'll come on with you anytime.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Thanks so much. Appreciate your time and stay safe out there, Stefan.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
Thanks brother,
The Ross Kaminsky Show News
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