Several massage parlors in Bothell were shut down after investigators uncovered a possible sex trafficking ring, police said.
Search warrants were executed Tuesday, April 14, at five businesses within blocks of the Bothell Police Department following what officials described as an extensive investigation involving detectives, patrol officers, and the city’s Community Crime Reduction Team.
The businesses had been the subject of ongoing community complaints, Bothell Police said.
Several people were taken into custody during the operation, and detectives are working to determine each individual’s role, including whether they were customers, employees, or people who may need support services.
Investigators said cases like this can sometimes reveal connections to human trafficking, and that identifying and assisting potential victims is a priority alongside enforcement.
Bothell Fire Department crews also responded and found significant safety concerns at all five locations. Each business was shut down and posted with “Stop Work” notices due to fire code violations.
Among the issues identified were unsafe wiring and makeshift living quarters inside at least one of the businesses, police said. The locations included multiple spas in the downtown area, all within a roughly two-block radius of the police station.
Among the businesses shuttered were: Oriental Lotus Spa on 101th Ave. Northeast, Sunflower Spa on Northeast 183rd Street, and Caviar Spa on State Route 527.
No formal charges had been announced as of Thursday, April 16.
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