Editorial: ABQ massage parlor bust highlights ugly open secret

https://www.abqjournal.com/2495811/webhedline-59.html#

From the editorial board of the AbqJournal:

May 5,2022

After five years of investigations by the IRS, Homeland Security Investigations and the Albuquerque police Vice Unit, authorities say the “vast majority” of Asian massage parlors in Albuquerque “operate as houses of prostitution.”

The assessment is in a federal search warrant affidavit that led to the March 29 arrest of Lily Bai, 40, of Corona, California, on racketeering and money laundering charges. She’s accused of running a prostitution ring through eight illicit Asian massage parlors in Albuquerque, Farmington, Las Cruces and Silver City since 2014.

According to the affidavit, undercover officers were offered sex acts at least eight times at Bai’s parlors between 2017 and 2022. But most troubling is the allegation Bai’s employees — rarely licensed massage therapists — are coerced into performing sex acts to earn money for basic living expenses. If true, that’s human sex trafficking.

Court records state Bai told an undercover APD officer posing as a prospective buyer it’s harder to make money with the same girl and suggested having new workers every month. The case raises the question of how many more vulnerable women are being exploited as sex workers in New Mexico massage parlors. A check with city officials shows around 190 state-licensed massage businesses in Albuquerque as of May 2020. While many are clearly legal therapeutic operations, the affidavit says some are not.

We hope authorities are actively investigating those other massage parlors because Bai isn’t an outlier if the “vast majority” of Asian massage parlors are engaged in prostitution. After years of this ugly open secret, it’s time to step up investigations and stamp out any human sex trafficking taking place in these parlors.

I can attest to the legitimacy of several of these places. Donated to that cause twice in a week … you’re welcome!

Any human trafficking must be stopped, no doubt, I agree and support that 100%, but perhaps I’m naive but most of the places I’ve visited, it seemed much more of a “this is my job, it’s what I do to earn living”. Yes, some places rotate girls in on a regular basis, and there’s probably something amiss there (one of the reasons I avoid those places … plus, any “review” has zero meaning). But for people like Luna, Sasha, Summer, May etc. I’m sure they’d prefer to be a cosmetic surgeons, but that wasn’t in the cards.

Human trafficked? I just don’t see it. My guess is, when faced with a charge, why not play the “I’m a victim” card … god knows I’d go there. Am I really so dumb (wouldn’t be the first time)

Last Week Tonight had an excellent show about sex work - they acknowledged that sex work has issues like human trafficking, but they made excellent points about not categorizing ALL sex work in the same negative vein. Some DO chose sex work as a job - it isn't referred to as "the oldest profession" for no reason. Without getting into too heavy a discussion- if we as a society could have an honest viewpoint of sex work, and not let our puritanical history automatically dismiss ALL sex work as inherently evil and bad, then we might actually be able to legitimize sex work- and make it SAFER FOR EVERYONE. Better healthcare. Stop giving workers criminal records, forcing them out of the "legitimate" workforce and keeping them in illicit activities. Hell, even tax it and generate revenue... rant over

To add on to Kay-dee, legalizing prostitution would help protect these providers because the could call the police if they were assaulted, robbed, etc. Also, the biggest reason for sex trafficking is because sex work is illegal. If it were legitimized and regulated and taxed, there would be a drastically reduced market for forced sex workers due to the number of legitimate workers. More people would be likely to report it if they were not afraid of the legal ramifications. Finally, the health of everyone participating could be drastically improved by making sure that health screenings were required to get a sex workers license. You need a physical to get a CDL so why not?

Sex work is completely legal in Germany. They tax and regulate it. Completely safe for everyone involved. Sex trafficking in Germany is nowhere near the levels here in the states. God I miss Germany.

Me, too.