AGONY & 'ECSTASY' AS CLUBS SHUT DOWN

Police were party poopers at two popular West Side nightclubs last night,
shuttering the hot spots after amassing evidence of rampant "designer drug"
use and sales.

Narcotics cops shut down Club Exit on West 56th Street and the Sound
Factory on West 46th Street after a 22-month undercover investigation.

During the probe, undercover cops posing as clubgoers purchased a laundry
list of drugs - mostly "ecstasy" - and witnessed numerous drug transactions
and patron drug use.

"Thanks to our detectives' hard work, we are sending a clear message to
nightclub owners: If you allow illegal drugs to saturate your business and
endanger your patrons, we'll shut you down," said Police Commissioner Ray
Kelly.

Over the last three years, the clubs have been the scene of more than 200
drug-related arrests.

So far, 11 people have been arrested for their involvement in selling and
using drugs - but no club owner has been charged.

State law could keep the clubs closed for up to a year - and cops say they
could close more clubs soon.