Manama: Police in Kuwait have arrested 23 cross-dressers and homosexuals after they busted a “wild party” held at a chalet in the south of the country.

“The vice police received a tip about the party and a warrant was issued by the public prosecution to take action against the cross dressers and homosexuals,” a security source told local daily Al Rai.

“The police encircled the chalet to make sure no one escaped and proceeded to arresting the people participating in the party. Some of them tried to escape by using the backdoor of the chalet and heading to the sea, but they were caught,” the source added.

Investigations revealed that the party was exclusively for cross-dressers and homosexuals who would face the charges of engaging in immoral activities, the daily said on Sunday.

Homosexuality is a social and legal offence in Kuwait and the other Gulf countries. Lawmakers, wary of the growing number of gays in the country, have been pushing for a crackdown, including the adoption of tougher immigration measures against expatriate homosexuals and their prompt deportation.