AP police crackdown on prostitution rings in spas

Visakhapatnam: Flesh trade racket masquerading as spas and massage centres has been busted in Andhra Pradesh following separate crackdown in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam over a period of two days.

The authorities rescued several women masseurs engaged in cross massages and allegedly forcing them to entertain male clients sexually on payment of a hefty amount. The number of spas mushroomed across the State following the lifting of restrictions imposed during the pandemic. Raids were conducted in Visakhapatnam immediately after teams from Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) cracked down on spa centres on receiving credible clues on running spas as sex joints within Vijayawada Police Commissionerate limits. Teams comprising 62 personnel raided six spas Patamata, Mtchavaram, Penamaluru and Suryaraopeta and found local and foreign women involved in flesh trade. Three women on a tourist visa from Thailand and 24 other women mainly from North-Eastern States were rescued and 25 people were taken into custody on the charge of being involved in sex business.

After several years, the police found involvement of Thai women. The rescued women were sent to rehabilitation centres as per law. The operators were also found to be offering different packages with discounts for regular customers. The operators used to accept cash as well as UPI payments from the customers. Police suspect that lakhs of rupees is being earned by the owners through flesh trade.