Houston massage parlor suspected of human trafficking

HOUSTON — A north Houston massage parlor has been asked to temporarily close its doors after a recent state inspection found signs of possible human trafficking.

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) on May 30 issued a six-month emergency closure for a business named Hsin Wei Chen and Foot Reflexology Star at 10801 Spring Cypress Road.

This is the first emergency closure ordered under a new Texas law that took effect last September. The law allows the TDLR executive director to shut down operations at massage establishments if human trafficking is suspected.

“You can expect to see a lot more of these emergency orders being issued,” said TDLR spokesperson Tela Mange. “This is a very important tool for us because we know there are massage parlors involved in human trafficking and we now have the legal authority to shut them down while we sort out what’s going on.”

According to Mange, the department was informed of the alleged trafficking in Hsin Wei Chen during a routine inspection on May 22.

“At first they didn’t let our inspector in,” she said. “There were two women there who eventually opened the door and it was obvious they lived at the property. There was luggage, dirty clothes, bedding.

Mange said there were also an “excessive” number of cameras in the establishment and other items indicating possible signs of trafficking.

“A lot of security, you have to buzz in certain areas,” she said. “All of these things put together, we know are indicators that there is probably some sort of human trafficking going on.”

Mange said the establishment’s owner also had a prior enforcement matter with TDLR involving similar conduct.

When KHOU 11 News visited the business Friday, a large sign hung above the business with the words “FU MASSAGE.” A flashing neon “OPEN” sign in the window seemed to indicate that the email lounge was still open.

A woman who identified herself as an employee came to the front door and answered our questions through a translation app. She didn’t seem to know about the human trafficking allegations or that the business was supposed to close until we told her.

The neon “OPEN” sign was then turned off, but the front door of the business remained unlocked. In a statement to KHOU 11 News, Mange said TDLR officials would coordinate with local authorities to enforce the closure.