At 1 a.m. on April 28, nearly 500 policemen raided Ha Noi’s largest hotspot, the New Century Nightclub and detained some 1,200 people, including performers and foreigners.
Later urine tests revealed that some 200 of them had been using drugs. Police also seized large quantities of illegal drugs including heroin and ecstasy. Seven couples were also found having sex in hired private rooms.
Five people, including club Director Nguyen Dai Duong, were temporarily detained for questioning about suspected drug trafficking.
The nightclub’s operating license was issued by the Ha Noi Department of Culture and Information in 2000 and expired on March 28 of this year.
On May 2, Ms. Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, Vice-Chairwoman of the Ha Noi People’s Committee, signed a document requesting Mr. Nguyen Duc Nhanh, Director of the Ha Noi Police, to work with the internal investigative branches of the drug enforcement (PC17) and social order enforcement (PC14) bureaus of the police department, to determine who within the departments was responsible for allowing the nightclub to remain open after hours or allowing drug trafficking activities to take place there.
The document also asked the police to prosecute any individuals involved in drug use or trafficking or having sex with prostitutes at the nightclub. As well, the Director and Chief Inspector of the Department of Culture and Information have been asked to deal with those, within the Department, responsible for allowing the nightclub to remain in business after its license had expired.
All reports related to the investigation are to be sent to the Ha Noi People’s Committee by May 7.
