BEXAR COUNTY, TX - Three massage parlors on the Northeast Side of Bexar County are under investigation by a state agency for allegations of human trafficking.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said the three businesses, located in the Live Oak and Universal City areas, were searched on Thursday, October 22, KSAT reported. Six women ranging in age from their late 30s to their 50s were rescued, DPS said. Investigators believe the parlors engaged in human trafficking.
No arrests were made during the search, and the investigation remains ongoing, FoxSA reported. The three businesses allegedly involved in the human trafficking have not been publicly identified.
DPS focuses its efforts to combat human trafficking by utilizing a victim-centered approach, which places equal importance and value on the identification, recovery, safety, and stabilization of victims in addition to the investigation and prosecution of traffickers, according to a press release from DPS.
Once a victim is identified, the department can connect them to critical services that will prevent further victimization. DPS reminds Texans that public awareness is vital to preventing and combating human trafficking.
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