METHUEN, Mass. — The owner of a Methuen massage parlor was arrested Friday on human trafficking-related charges following the recent shutdown of the business, Methuen police announced.
Suping Zhu, a resident of Flushing, New York, faces charges including trafficking a person for sexual servitude, keeping a house of ill fame, and deriving support from prostitution, according to a Sunday police press release.
The investigation into Beauty Garden Spa on Wallace Street began after Methuen police received multiple complaints from residents. Following a thorough investigation involving surveillance and undercover work, officers obtained a search warrant on September 4.
During the search, authorities discovered living quarters for two women in the basement of the commercial building. Methuen’s Departments of Health, Human Services, and Inspections were notified, and the spa was immediately closed.
Police also seized numerous computers, phones, and business records, and interviewed two women who worked at the spa. The evidence led to a warrant for Zhu’s arrest on human trafficking charges.
Mayor D.J. Beauregard vowed a strong crackdown on trafficking in the city, stating, “We will identify and apprehend traffickers, shut down every business in Methuen that profits from this evil, and hold landlords accountable if they harbor them.”
Beauty Garden Spa remains closed, and authorities say Zhu and potentially others could face additional charges as the investigation continues.
Methuen Police Chief Scott McNamara called the operation a major step forward in the city’s fight against human trafficking. He added a warning to customers involved in the illicit trade, saying, “You are not invisible, and we are targeting you next with the full might of the law.”
Zhu is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Lawrence District Court.
