Manama: Kuwait’s security authorities have arrested 82 people for attending a “suspicious” party during the Eid holidays.
The arrests were made after the morality police raided an apartment in the Mangaf area in the suburbs of the capital Kuwait City.
The detainees included Kuwaiti nationals, Arabs and foreigners, a security source told local daily Al Seyassah.
“The police were given tips about plans to hold suspicious dance parties in which hard liquor and drugs would be used,” the source said. “A special unit was set up to monitor specific places, including a building in Mangaf. When they busted the apartment in that building, they found drugs and imported bottles of wine,” the source said.
It added that the party organisers had adopted a “professional network” to ensure they were not discovered.
“They had security guards and valets to help park the cars. Nobody was allowed into the apartment unless they showed they had been cleared to attend the party. The programme included selecting the best dance and the best dancing couple. The organisers also allocated special places to ensure privacy for couples,” the source added.
Last week, the police said they were determined to take action against anyone who promoted any “suspicious” party, reception or concert during Eid.
The warning was issued as the police sought to arrest a man for promoting an evening party on board a yacht off the coast of a Kuwaiti island.
The promoter had offered an evening of food, drinks, movies, music and dance on the second day of Eid Al Adha off the island of Failaka for 25 dinars (Dh320).
He said that the evening celebration would be a mixed gathering and that the price included free transport from and to homes. The promoter distributed the mobile numbers to be contacted for booking tickets.
News about the party was spread mainly through social networks, which are very active in Kuwait, the Kuwaiti media reported.
However, the invitations were also seen by the police and the head of the criminal investigations ordered an investigation into the case and the arrest of the promoter.
An initial probe revealed that the cell numbers were genuine, which enabled the police to track down the promoter.
Kuwait bans “suspicious” parties based on the belief that they violate laws and flout local traditions and social values that frown upon the free mixing of genders.
In the Gulf, only Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have a blanket ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol.
