Denver- A raid of an illegal underground nightclub in Marrakech on Sunday, September 26 has resulted in the arrests of over a dozen people.
According to law enforcement, the investigating officers found a local villa that was converted into a makeshift nightclub. Officers discovered large quantities of alcohol, hookahs, and rooms “furnished for the purpose of debauchery.”
The police arrested six women in addition to several men. The arrested individuals included several married men, suspected prostitutes, and the owner of the club.
Police reported that the owner of the illegal nightclub fled into the woods, and his current whereabouts are unknown.
After being detained, the individuals were brought before a local public prosecutor and judge in Marrakech on Wednesday, September 29.
It is unknown the amount of jail time or fines each subject faces, however, the suspects will likely be charged for violating the country’s current state of emergency policies, selling alcohol without authorization, and other charges related to the suspected prostitution that appears to have occurred.
Authorities have suspended the majority of most nightlife activities in major cities such as Marrakech due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Many have attempted to organize secretive nightclubs throughout the country, in an attempt to circumvent national laws. In 2021 alone, police conducted major raids on illegal clubs in Marrakech, Rabat, and Tangier.
