Second massage parlor shut down, accused of human trafficking in Mass. city in 24 hours
Methuen officials shut down a second city massage parlor and accused it of running a human trafficking operation on Monday — less than 24 hours after police announced the shuttering of Beauty Garden Spa and the arrest of its co-manager on sex trafficking charges.
Eastern Bodywork Therapy at 17 Hampshire St. is believed to have been a "front" for a human trafficking operation, city officials said in a press release . On Monday, a city health inspector visited the massage parlor in response to a complaint reporting "unlicensed business activity."
"Upon inspection, the inspector discovered that the site was being used as an unlicensed bodywork establishment," the release reads. "Evidence of unlawful habitation and other materials consistent with criminal activity were found in plain view and immediately referred to the Methuen Police Department for further investigation."
The Methuen Department of Health, Human Services and Inspections immediately issued a cease-and-desist order for the business, officials said. It is unclear if anyone connected with the business has been arrested or charged, but officials said they'd release further information as the investigation continues.
Eastern Bodywork Therapy's shut down comes less than 24 hours after Methuen police announced the arrest of 38-year-old Beauty Garden Spa co-manager Suping Zhu, of Flushing, New York, on human trafficking charges. Earlier this month, the health, human services and inspections department shut down the Wallace Street massage parlor based on code violations after police discovered two women living in the basement of the business.
Earlier on Monday, Methuen officials said they suspected other businesses in the city of running human trafficking operations . During a press conference, Mayor D.J. Beauregard announced the creation of a multi-department task force that will work with nonprofits and other community partners to crack down on businesses profiting from sexual servitude in Methuen.
"We will work together to identify traffickers, shutter illegal businesses that profit from this evil, and hold landlords accountable if they harbor and profit from such activities," he said in the release.
The mayor also called on Methuen residents to help investigators target human traffickers by keeping an eye out for suspicious activity and reporting their observations to police.
"I think the most critical thing here is — I want our residents who see this type of activity, or suspect it, to be forthcoming, to reach out and share their concerns with us so that we can have a path forward by way of leads," the mayor said.
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