Police Bust Over 160 Maskless People Partying In Illegal New York Nightclub

Authorities in New York have shut down an illegal nightclub early Sunday after at least 164 maskless people were found partying inside.

The makeshift, underground bar was found on 243rd Street Rosedale, Queens, ABC7 reported. Authorities found the visitors apparently used a rear alley to enter the nightclub.

Officials said apart from violating restrictions enacted to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the club also disregarded fire codes and sold alcohol without a license, the New York City Sheriff’s office said in a tweet.

The DJ, Andres Cadavid, 28, and two unlicensed security guards, who were among the organizers of the party, were charged for violating coronavirus-related restrictions in the "dangerously overcrowded" nightclub, officers told the New York Post. A patron was reportedly charged after some marijuana and a hatchet were found in his possession.

Police officers told the New York Post they first spotted some people entering a rear alley on Mayda Road between 241st and 243rd streets and offloading alcohol. Authorities found an awning in front of the illegal bar which read "EVENT CENTER."

Upon entering, they spotted hundreds of unmasked patrons drinking, dancing and smoking hookah. The identity of the owners of the venue wasn’t known immediately. The bar, which had no valid certificate of occupancy, was reportedly slapped with a $15,000 fine after the law enforcement raid.

"It’s very hard to identify who the organizers are. The three people we can identify as organizers were the two security guards and the DJ," city Sheriff Joseph Fucito told the outlet.

Investigators found dozens of near-empty bottles of alcohol, including those of renowned brands such as Casamigos Tequila, Clase Azul Tequila, Buchanan’s Scotch Whisky, while several types of beer bottles were found strewn across the dance floor.

"They were serving alcoholic beverages. Enough cases to supply 170 people -- different types of vodka," said Fucito.

New York, which has accounted for over 800,000 infection cases in the total 17.9 million tally all across the U.S., has an indefinite ban in place for large public gatherings to halt the further spread of COVID-19. The state has limited public gatherings to no more than 10 people.