McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — A massage parlor in the South Texas border town of Laredo has been shut down and state officials say it is tied to human smuggling and possible sex trafficking.
The 168 Foot Spa was closed down Tuesday by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) and has been issued a six-month operation suspension, agency officials announced Thursday.
The closure follows an agency inspection of the facility, which “found that employees were living in the establishment, which is prohibited,” agency officials said.
Agency officials also said employees were not licensed in Texas to provide massage therapy services.
Inspectors allegedly found that 168 Foot Spa “advertised sexual services on illicit websites,” officials said.
168 Foot Spa id one of several massage establishments in the border city where the Laredo Police Department recently conducted undercover stings. Officials said one of the massage therapists “offered sexual services to a police officer and was arrested.”
The closure by the state agency falls under a bill passed by the Texas Legislature and signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June 2023, which allows the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s executive director to issue an emergency order halting business at any massage establishment if law enforcement or the agency believes human trafficking is occurring at the facility.
Tuesday’s order was the 14th emergency order issued by the TDLR since the law took effect on Sept. 1, 2023.
A post on the parlor’s Facebook page says they hire state “licensed and legally immigrated staff.”
According to the agency’s website, TDLR inspectors perform unscheduled inspections at licensed massage establishments once every two years. They check individual and facility licenses and ensure the licensees comply with sanitation and record-keeping requirements.
All massage therapists, establishment owners and massage school owners undergo a national fingerprint-based criminal history check. Previous convictions, guilty pleas or deferred adjudications for sexual or human trafficking offenses can keep an applicant or license holder from receiving or renewing a license.
All licensed massage therapists must attach their photo to the front of their license.
Anyone who suspects human trafficking is occurring can contact the National Hotline for Human Trafficking at 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).
Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.
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