13 nabbed in brothel raid at villa

Police have arrested 13 suspects involved in a prostitution ring that operated out of a villa in Minhang district to evade a recent crackdown on the sex trade, local police said Tuesday.

The ring leader, surnamed Peng, began running a brothel out of a villa on Ziteng Road on March 25 after police began a campaign earlier this year that made it difficult for clubs and other establishments to offer illegal sex services, according to a press release from the Minhang District Public Security Bureau.

Many brothels in the city operate under the guise of saunas, bathhouses and massage parlors.

Peng had owned a sauna in the Hongqiao area, but had to relocate after the crackdown began, police said.

Members of the ring advertised the villa's services through text messages and WeChat, a mobile messaging application. They required clients to contact them in advance, police said. Strangers were turned away at the door. The villa had its own security guards.

Prices were negotiated over WeChat, said a press officer surnamed Xue with the Minhang District Public Security Bureau. The ring's prostitutes charged about 780 yuan ($125).

Xue said that it was difficult for the police to discover the prostitution ring because it was operating out of a villa.

After receiving a report about prostitution at the villa, police had to wait nearby until an opportune time presented itself to raid the villa. When police went in on April 16, they arrested two pairs of suspects inside.

Of the 13 suspects arrested, two worked as supervisors over the prostitutes.