Police shut down 6 NY spas in prostitution probe

samsung1
Ohio
WEST SENECA, N.Y. — Police in western New York have shut down six Asian spas following a six-month investigation into prostitution and human trafficking.

The businesses were located in the Buffalo suburbs of West Seneca, Lancaster, Depew and Cheektowaga.

West Seneca police say Thursday that officers raided the spas on Monday, along with two apartments used by the owners and their female employees.

Investigators say 10 women, all believed to be Chinese nationals, are being assisted by local authorities and are cooperating in the investigation.

Two people who operated the spas face charges of promoting prostitution. They've yet to be arrested.

During the raids, officers seized $45,000 in cash, along with immigration documents and business records.

http://online.wsj.com/article/AP08a90387…

3 comments

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  • rickdugan
    •
    14 years ago
    Human trafficking? The Chinese nationals are being "assisted" by police? If the two people who run the spas were trafficking, why aren't they being charged with kidnapping and other more heinous crimes?

    Most of this trafficking crap is pure nonsense designed to provide cover for police to crack down on prostitution.
  • Luckymann
    •
    14 years ago
    Assisted? Why not deported?
  • Dudester
    •
    14 years ago
    "Assisted? Why not deported?"

    Because, in the eyes of prosecutors (in some jurisdictions), they are victims. In some cases these women are steered into a hybrid civic/faith based organization that helps with housing and job placement so that they'll be around to testify against the traffickers.
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