Tampa, Florida - Tampa Police conducted an undercover operation yesterday and arrested three men at two Asian massage parlors. Officers said the Bangkok Health Club and the Magic Health Club, both on West Kennedy, allowed prostitution to take place in their business and operated without a license.
The Criminal Intelligence Bureau says the spas were using massage advertising as a legitimate way to attract customers for prostitution.
Undercover detectives say they faced difficulty building prostitution cases against these businesses in the past. This time they say they developed felony cases because the businesses were operating without the proper licenses through the Florida Department of Health.
The Florida Department of Health, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the State Attorney's Office worked with the Tampa Police Department's Criminal Intelligence Bureau to conduct the undercover operation.
The operation also resulted in a cash seizure of $2,660 from the Bangkok Health Club Massage and $2,570 from the Magic Health Spa.
Officers arrested Sun Deog Lee and Mi Suk Radau of the Bangkok Health Club Massage and Ji Young Park of the Magic Health Spa. An immigration hold has also been placed on Lee.
Tampa Bay's 10 News