Police said they shut down Copa Cabana, an alleged strip club, and arrested 26 people for various offenses, ranging from alleged solicitation of prostitution and alleged violations of the Business License Act and the Immigration Act. Police said they entered the West Bay Street club around 11:45 p.m. Friday and executed a search warrant.

During their search, three employees, 11 female exotic dancers and 12 male patrons were arrested, police said. Superintendent Stephen Dean said it is suspected that some of the dancers are non-Bahamians who were working illegally. "One or two of them are of various nationalities so we have to look at their documentation, but we know that they didn't get a work permit for the illegal activities that they were engaged in," Dean said. He added that police are looking to prosecute the alleged offenders.

"We will definitely be pursuing those matters. I can tell you that examples will be made," he said. "Police are serious that when we target these nightclubs, I can tell you some persons will be going in front of the court to answer charges related to this offense." Dean said Friday's raid was one of many special operations police have conducted.

He said that in recent weeks police have found illegal firearms and drugs in nightspots. He added that police also have intelligence about nightclub dancers who are prostituting themselves. He warned nightclub owners and operators to weed out illegal activity from their establishments or face arrest and prosecution. "We know some illegal activities are going on in a number of these nightclubs, but the responsibility is on the owners to put proper security measures in place," Dean said.

Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian