Lafayette Police Say Chinese Prostitution Ring Uncovered

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — Police say seven massage parlors in Lafayette raided last week along with parlors in Bossier City and Lake Charles were part of a human trafficking network with international reach.

Lafayette police Chief Jim Craft said Monday the seven businesses in Lafayette are alleged to have been sites of prostitution, employing women from China who were not allowed to leave the parlors, spoke no English and plied their trade in other U.S. locations.

The Advocate reports one man and 10 women, all born in China, were arrested on counts of having no license from the Louisiana Board of Massage Therapy. Two of the suspects were each booked on 10 counts of promoting prostitution. Only one of the women was booked on an actual prostitution charge.

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