NYPD busts 6 alleged brothels in Queens
CORONA, Queens (WABC) -- At least six brothels masquerading as massage parlors were shut down during a surprise quality-of-life initiative in Corona, Queens, police said.
Police and city officials surveilled the neighborhood at around 1:30 a.m., and witnessed the brothels in "full effect."
They got court orders based on what they observed and then returned in the afternoon, shutting down at least six massage parlors along Roosevelt Avenue, according to police, and more could come.
Mayor Eric Adams orchestrated the crackdown on prostitution and sex trafficking after the city heard complaints from residents.
"Sex trafficking is real, and these horrid conditions makes it clear why the New York City Police Department is not going to city idly by and pretend that it does not happen," Adams said.
NYPD Assistant Commissioner Kaz Daughtry had a message for brothel owners that operate illegal shops.
"We will come we will send out under covers and we will do everything within the law to shut you down," he said. "If you open up again, under a different name. We're going to repeat the process again. Come back and shut you down again."
The women working at the locations are not the targets of this crackdown, rather they are the victims.
"We don't want to lock up the women that work here, we want to get them help," Daughtry said. "Our job as the police department is to help them get the services that they need so they don't have to do this. There's other types of work here in New York City that they can do besides doing this."
No women were arrested, but none of the operators of the alleged brothels were arrested either.
During a tactical briefing before the busts, Adams stated the importance of quality of life for residents in the community.
"It's important to focus on the brothels who are creating this climate that's going to downgrade the quality of life in this community," he said.
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