PATERSON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- Police in New Jersey raided two illegal clubs over the weekend after they were found still open past the state's enacted 10 p.m. curfew.
"This cannot go on. It's spreading disease, it's promoting crime and it's against the law," Police Director Jerry Speziale said. " These kinds of off-the-books establishments often lead to police calls for violent fights and they put people's lives at risk because the spaces are not up to the fire code."
Dozens of party-goers were dispersed as officials seized alcohol and hookahs from the after-hours parties.
According to police on Friday, at 11:41 p.m., officers entered Akimekedo Restaurant which appeared closed at 10 p.m., but was operating as an illegal club with a DJ and alcohol for sale .
Police unlocked front door and observed approximately 20 people sitting at tables with buckets of beer and glasses of alcohol, and several garbage cans which contained additional beer and alcohol for sale.
Hookahs were also found in use, officials added in a statement.
The owner Eudies Aguilar Oliva, 42, admitted through a translator that he did not have liquor or entertainment licenses, police said.
Police seized the alcohol, hookahs and $457 in cash and Aguilar Oliva was issued a summons for charges including illegal sale of alcohol, maintaining a nuisance, allowing smoking in public and consumption of alcohol.
Police busted another after-hours establishment the next day at a storefront located at 106 Park Avenue, where authorities discovered patrons entering the establishment through a back entrance.
Officials said they had received reports that people had been partying at the establishment until 5 a.m.
Upon entry, officers allegedly found a DJ playing loud music, with about 10 tables with several people at each drinking, smoking hookah, and filling the space with smoke.
Jose Santos, 37, and Yinaiqui Nunez, 22, were arrested and charged for operating the establishment.
Their charges include illegal sale of alcohol, allowing smoking indoors and maintaining a nuisance.
Santos was additionally charged with resisting arrest but police did not release details of what led to the charge.
According to Speziale, his department will prosecute anyone operating illegal drinking establishments to the fullest extent of the law.
He added that the department will keep a close eye out as these events are often advertised through flyers shared on social media.
"We have a quality of life detail out there and we've been trying to get in front of it with intelligence," Speziale said. "We're trying to close these locations down before they get out of control, so that we don't have problems, fights, shootings."
