Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
METHUEN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The mayor of Methuen is speaking out after the city recently shut down a second local health spa accused of operating a human trafficking ring, coming less than 24 hours after the closure of the first.
On Monday, Eastern Bodywork Therapy was shut down after an inspector from the Methuen Department of Health, Human Services, and Inspections responded to a complaint of unlicensed business activity.
During that inspection, the inspector discovered that the business was being used as an unlicensed bodywork establishment and found evidence of “unlawful habitation and other materials consistent with criminal activity,” according to a recent press release.
This prompted Methuen Mayor David “D.J.” Beauregard to announce that the city will be forming a new Human Trafficking Task Force that will, “root out such establishments citywide by holding individual perpetrators and the landlords profiting from these illegitimate businesses accountable,” according to the same press release.
Speaking with WBZ NewsRadio Boston the mayor said that him and others in Methuen believe that there are more sex trafficking rings operating in the city.
“You know we keep hearing from residents that there are other locations,” he said.
“There’s more to be uncovered for sure,” he continued.
The closure of Eastern Bodywork Therapy follows the recent closure of the first spa accused of human trafficking, Methuen’s Beauty Garden Spa, which resulted in the arrest of its manager, 38-year-old Suping Zhu.
The closure was aided by a nearby neighbor who reported to Methuen Police about suspicious activity that was allegedly occurring at the business.
The neighbor said they’d been working with police for two years to stop the alleged human trafficking and said they frequently saw girls with suitcases being dropped off at Beauty Garden multiple times a month.
They also alleged that they saw men who drove luxury cars and company work vehicles regularly frequenting the spa during the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Police say the business was ultimately shutdown when they investigated the spa earlier this month and discovered living quarters for two women in the building’s basement.
Zhu is accused of trafficking these two women to perform sex acts in the business and faces several charges including prostitution, keeper of a house of ill fame, and trafficking a person for sexual servitude.
“Human trafficking and sexual servitude, these things are evil, they are morally reprehensible,” said Mayor Beauregard.
“Ultimately its evil, that’s what it comes down to,” he continued.
Zhu was arraigned in Lawrence District Court on Monday but posted $25,000 cash bail and is set to be back in court on Oct. 24.
Zhu had to surrender her passport as she has ties to China and has been living in the Flushing neighborhood of Queens, New York which is home to the city’s largest Chinatown.
The mayor also noted that he’s taking the whole situation personally and spoke about his duty to protect his community.
“For me it is personal because this is my hometown, it’s the city I have to lead and ultimately I want my residents to feel safe,” he said.
“Ultimately, I feel like it’s my job as mayor of this city to always be looking out for my residents, but also protecting them and protecting our community,” he concluded.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.