TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested three Chinese nationals for operating an illegal sex parlor in the Shinbashi district.
Police say it is a crime-ridden operation that investigators say raked in a staggering 1.6 billion yen, reports Nippon News Network (Nov. 6).
The suspects, led by manager Yaoqin Yang, allegedly ran a relaxation business called Himawari, which bypassed local ordinances banning sex work in the area.
According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the women aggressively solicited male passersby on the streets of Shinbashi, whispering, “Let’s go for a special massage,” to lure customers into the shop. Another woman was also arrested for persistent street solicitation.
The investigation into the parlor intensified after a series of reports from customers claiming their wallets and personal belongings had been stolen while inside the establishment.
Despite the mounting evidence and the massive revenue generated by the illicit business, Yang has denied the allegations. “I don’t know what kind of massages the girls are performing,” she reportedly told police.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the scale of the operation and the connection between the shop’s services and the reported thefts.
