COLUMBUS, Ohio – More than a dozen women believed to be sex slaves were in the care of the Salvation Army Thursday morning after being rescued during raids on four central Ohio massage parlors.
To report activity you think may be related to human trafficking: National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 888-3737-888.
The arrests came a day before an event at the Statehouse intended to raise awareness about the fast-growing international crime.
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Members of the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force also arrested two people following the raids on massage parlors in Columbus, Powell and Worthington.
As many as 18 women were rescued from the businesses, where authorities believe they were forced to live, sleeping on the massage tables. They have been placed in the care of the Salvation Army of Delaware County, which will find housing and other necessities for them, according to the office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
“It appears the women resided in the commercial location continually through nights, weekends and holidays,” Powell Police Chief Gary Vest (left) said.
The investigation began in late October when Vest’s department received an anonymous letter claiming that customers at Amsun Massage, 128 E. Olentangy Street, were purchasing sex and that “women in servitude” were spending their nights sleeping on massage tables, according to a release from the DeWine’s office, which operates the task force as part of its Organized Crime Investigations Commission.
Arrested were Qing Xu, and Xiao Shuang Chao, 56, both of Columbus.
In addition to the Powell location of Amsun Massage, search warrants were also served at Amsun Massage, 1000 High St, Worthington; Rainbow Massage, 5564 Hilliard Rome Road, Columbus, and a home at 2144 Jasmine Court on the Far West Side of Columbus, DeWine’s office said.
“Today we are not just arresting those who are suspected of trafficking women for sex, we are also rescuing those who may be victims of this heinous crime,” Columbus police commander Gary Cameron said.
The arrests came a day before advocates, state lawmakers and others were scheduled to attend a Statehouse event aimed at building awareness about human trafficking. The event features a resource fair as well as education panels of advocacy professionals and human trafficking survivors.
Combating the illegal trade of human beings for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor has been a priority for Gov. John Kasich and the Legislature. Rep. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) sponsored a state law that made human trafficking illegal and another law aimed at protecting victims. She is expected to discuss prospective legislation at the sixth annual Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
Victims of human trafficking often are prostituted or pushed to work against their will in sweatshop-type jobs. Some are girls as young as 11.