Mayor Tim Keller, City of Albuquerque | City of Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE – Detectives with the Albuquerque Police Department's High Risk Victims Unit collaborated with special agents from the Governor’s Organized Crime Commission to raid an illegal massage parlor near Downtown on Wednesday evening.
The operation took place at 1007 Luna Circle, N.W., near Lomas Blvd. and 12th St. Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant on the unlicensed business and arrested Mei Chien Wu, 50, charging her with promoting prostitution. Authorities seized more than $5,500 in cash along with several working cell phones.
The New Mexico Organized Crime Commission initiated the investigation into the business in June after identifying it on a website that featured images of young Asian females and promoted potential illegal activities, including sex services.
Special Agents contacted APD’s Special Victims Section to assist with the investigation. Members of APD’s Gun Violence Reduction Unit and Major Crime Scene Team also participated in the raid.
Detectives and agents conducted surveillance and observed several males entering and exiting the business in a pattern consistent with prostitution. Investigators discovered that Mei Chien Wu had a history of human trafficking (forced labor), prostitution, and pimping in California.
The investigation into the massage parlor is ongoing.
