The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) announced this week that a south Lubbock massage parlor—near University and 74th—wasn’t exactly in the business of deep tissue therapy. Instead, it’s part of an eight-city sting operation tied to suspected human trafficking, shady ads for sexual services, and employees conveniently “forgetting” to have massage licenses. Whoops.
Investigators said workers were even living in the establishments, which is probably not the spa-like vibe advertised. In one especially bizarre twist, a woman in Midland literally crawled through the ceiling to escape into a daycare next door. Because nothing says “family-friendly” like a human trafficking bust next to nap time.
According to TDLR, the eight parlors were all owned by the same three people—a business model that screams efficiency, if not legality. The state has now issued emergency orders shuttering the businesses for at least six months and banning the owners from opening any new “massage” operations.
Only in Lubbock: you can’t find a good bagel shop to save your life, but you can sure stumble across a trafficking ring dressed up as a day spa. Priorities, right?
