Police, tax collectors and customs agents raided one of Oslo’s most popular nightclubs while it was operating in full swing over the weekend. The authorities swept into the club at 1am during a busy Saturday night, making two arrests and abruptly halting the party because of suspected economic crime.
Newspaper Aftenposten reported that one of those arrested is believed to be the club’s owner. He couldn’t be reached for comment on Sunday.
Ten police officers wearing civilian clothing arrived at the nightclub accompanied by several officials from the local tax authorities and followed by customs officials. At least 30 representatives of the law were involved in the crackdown as they seized computers and cash registers, examined bottles lined up at the bar, questioned employees to determine whether they were working legally and went through receipts at the door, where customers had to pay a NOK 100 (USD 13) cash “cover charge” to enter.
Statistics from the public business agency Næringsetaten show that several nightclubs and bars in Oslo have been shut down in recent years because of economic crime, tax evasion and illegal business practices. Around a dozen clubs lost their licenses to serve food and liquor, up from three the year before.
newsinenglish.no staff
