As the Houston Police Department continues its crackdown on "after hours clubs," it was joined by other law enforcement officers in an overnight raid of two such bars in southeast Houston.
Both were in the area of I-45 the Gulf Freeway near Edgebrook, in a shopping center where the two clubs were raided simultaneously, resulting in the arrest of 20 people early Saturday morning, according to police.
The two clubs were called the La Zona Bar and Lounge and Los Corrales South and were full of patrons when the raids started.
Recovered were drugs, weapons and alcohol, along with Fentanyl-laced pills.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire arrived after the operation began because, he said, he wanted to see the officers in action.
“I’ve never been more proud. We’re putting a stop to it and protecting Houstonians,” he said.
Last month, more than half a dozen people were involved in after-hour club shootings, where police say public intoxication and drug sales are flourishing and patrons often carry guns.
Efforts by police were joined by Houston City Council recently, who've expressed concern about the number of bars staying open well past the legal closing time of 2 am.
Most of the clubs don't have permits to be open late and some don't have permits at all.