Prior to the Golden Week holiday, we told you about a raid at late night dance club Celia, in which police entered the venue during the early hours of the morning on Sunday, September 24.
According to a witness at the scene, a police vehicle parked out of view from the club, and four officers proceded to enter the venue and conduct urine tests on the patrons. During this time, bouncers barricaded the doors and prevented people from entering or leaving the club.
One unverified source also claimed that up to 50 patrons, many of them expats and foreign nationals, tested positive for drug use and were subsequently detained for at least 48 hours.
In a statement obtained by Time Out Shanghai, Celia management confirmed that police raided the club, however they said it was a passport check:
"The police were merely checking ID and they were only concerned with those who couldn't provide their passport or a copy. There were only 20 [people who couldn't provide proper identification], who were taken to the police station and only there urine tested. Only 10 of these tested positive for previous drug use – marijuana and others – and have been detained."
The club is temporarily closed until October 25, but will reopen briefly from October 11 to 18.
With rumors of similar raids happening recently at nightlife venues both in Shanghai and around China, we'd recommend keeping your passport handy (or at least a photo of it on your phone) when going out. Police have been known to conduct raids in bursts, often around public holidays.
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