Another Berks amp bites the dust!
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Berks County detectives Thursday night raided an Asian massage parlor in Shoemakersville that they said was a front for prostitution and arrested three women working there.
The raid at Peace of Mind Spa at 1360 Pottsville Pike, which also is Route 61, happened about 6 and followed a lengthy investigation sparked by complaints from area residents, authorities said.
Detectives got a search warrant and took the women into custody without incident, investigators said.
The three women were charged with prostitution and related offenses and were taken to the Berks sheriff's office in the county services center for processing.
The women, whose names were not immediately available, were awaiting arraignment late Thursday.
Court workers said they were trying to find interpreters for at least two of the women, who speak little or no English. All the women are Korean, authorities said.
It was the seventh raid in the past year by county detectives on massage parlors they said are fronts for prostitution.
Most of the women arrested in the raids are South Korean and some are in the country illegally, investigators said.
Federal investigators also have been working on the cases trying to determine if any of the women are victims of human trafficking.
District Attorney JA has said his office has made no concerted effort to target the businesses and that detectives have acted only in response to complaints from residents who suspect illegal activity.
Before Thursday night, the last raid was in March at Balance Spa Wellness Center, 14091 Kutztown Road, which also is Route 222, in Richmond Township. Two women were arrested in that raid.
City police also have raided two Asian massage parlors in the past year. Both were less than a block apart on Lancaster Avenue.