It was a rare busy evening in Kings Cross – ground zero of the lockout laws – on Saturday night after dozens of police officers stormed Candy’s Apartment nightclub, ejected all patrons, and shut the club down.

The reason? A three-month investigation into illegal drugs in the Kings Cross area. The raid resulted in a single arrest: a 21-year-old man who was allegedly found to have 60 MDMA capsules. Candy’s Apartment will stay closed for 72 hours, with allegations of “a number of drug supply and licensing breaches”.

The wording – and the three-day shutdown – suggests that police believe Candy’s is being used to supply drugs, although whether this is being done by anyone connected to the popular nightspot remains to be seen.

Owner Charlie Mancuso wasn’t impressed by the shutdown, telling SMH, “the police have to show they are doing something other wise they are going to lose their jobs.”

Elliott Harper, a regular DJ at Candy’s Apartment, posted on Facebook on Saturday night, “I’ve just witnessed 40 police officers storm into Candys and shut the venue down because ‘the patrons are in danger’. The entire Bayswater Road has been blocked off and police tape has been used to section off the street outside the club. You would think that a murder has taken place.”

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