New York's brothels fronting as 'massage parlour's targeted by Mayor and cops

03 February 2024 , 08:00

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Behind the doors of the 'massage parlours' were rows of single beds separated by curtains (Image: FOX News)

In the space of a week, the NYPD closed down at least 12 brothels operating in New York City, many of which were fronting as massage parlours, one just yards from a school, as part of a sex trafficking crackdown.

It comes after Mayor Eric Adams launched a major effort to close these dodgy businesses after listening to local residents' concerns relayed by City Councilman Francisco Moya. The Mayor collaborated with the NYPD and formed a team that included both city officials and law enforcement officers to probe potential sex trafficking operations on Roosevelt Avenue.

Local residents and shop owners were all too aware of what was happening behind the doors of so-called 'massage parlours'. One such establishment was allegedly just 50 feet away from a local school. NYPD conducted investigations at 12 commercial locations following "allegations of illegal prostitution activity".

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Locals gathered to watch police bust the brothels (FOX News)

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"The investigations led to undercover NYPD officers entering the storefronts on various dates where individuals agreed to perform sex acts in exchange for a fee," the police force added. In a media briefing, Mayor Adams revealed that shortly before the raids, law enforcement saw the 'massage parlours' still operating in "full effect" at 1.30am on Wednesday, January 25.

A judge's court order allowed police to search and shut down several operations on Thursday afternoon. At least six massage parlours along Roosevelt Avenue were closed, with police hinting there could be more.

"It is clear what is taking place there," said Mayor Adams after the raids. "This is really bringing down the quality of life of this community and anyone who says this is a victimless crime, you really need to see the inhumane conditions."

Inside the brothels, rows of dirty single beds were found, each separated by curtains. Police stormed one Jackson Heights parlour around 4.45pm on Thursday, much to the delight of neighbouring businesses.

Mayor Adams described the conditions inside as 'inhumane' (FOX News)

Rajbir Kaur, who works next door to one of the closed parlours, said she saw women enticing men into the dimly lit brothel filled with curtains and beds. She expressed her relief, saying: "finally, finally we're happy because they start standing in front of our doors, and it's a big mess for us."

Another local resident revealed that he and his neighbours were well aware of the activities inside the 'massage parlour'. He shared: "All I see, girls call in customers, saying massage, massage, and sometimes, they even grab the customers inside. That's what I see a lot."

NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry has said this is just the beginning of a big operation to close down illegal brothels in NYC. Standing outside one of the brothels, he said: "You have women out here scantily dressed. Do you want your kids to see that? This is unacceptable."

"The residents have spoken. We have heard them, and this is the result of the residents in Corona and East Elmhurst. This is the result. This is the first location, and we're just getting started."

NYC Mayor Eric Adams joined the NYPD as it shut down 6 establishments engaging in prostitution (FOX News)

He warned those running illegal brothels and sex shops, saying: "We will come, we will send our undercover in, we will do everything within the law to shut you down. If you open up again under a different name, we're going to repeat the process again, come back, and shut you down again."

Councilmember Moya promised to use "every tool in our toolbox to crackdown on illegal brothels in Queens". He added: "We will employ all measures within the law to close down these establishments operating under deplorable conditions.

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"The NYPD will track them down, preventing any attempts to reopen under a different name or location. Our dedication to ensuring community safety is firm, and we will persist until the job is done."

Authorities have issued stern warnings to those running the brothels but made it clear that the women working there are victims, not targets. Assistant Commissioner Daughtry said: "We don't want to lock up the women that work here, we want to get them help.

Mayor Eric Adams has launched a huge crackdown on sex trafficking in New York City (FOX News)

"Our job as the police department is to help them get the services that they need so they don't have to do this. There's other types of work here in New York City that they can do besides doing this."

Mayor Adams spoke about the seriousness of sex trafficking and the role of brothels in creating such a climate. After Thursday's bust, he told the press: "We all know what sex trafficking is about, and it's important to focus on the brothels who are creating this climate.

"Sex trafficking is real, and these horrid conditions make it clear why the New York City Police Department were not going [to] sit idly by and pretend as though it does not happen."

The owners of the alleged sex shops remain unknown. No arrests have been made in connection with the raids yet.

Fiona Leishman