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At least 15 known illicit massage businesses shut down in New Hampshire, AG says

At least 15 known illicit massage businesses shut down in New Hampshire, AG says
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      ...BUT AUTHORITIES SAY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS...THEY ARE "FRONTS" FOR ORGANIZED TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS. < "THESE ARE NOT LEGITIMATE MASSAGE BUSINESSES. THESE ARE HUBS FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING OPERATIONS. THEY'RE COERCING AND FORCING WOMEN TO ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTS AGAINST THEIR WILL."> <"THIS TYPE OF CONDUCT IS NOT GOING TO BE PERMITTED."> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE SAYS ILLICIT MASSAGE BUSINESSES ARE HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT ACROSS THE GRANITE STATE.... AND THEY'RE SHUTTING THEM DOWN... <"WE HAVE SHUT DOWN MORE THAN 40% OF THESE ILLICIT MASSAGE BUSINESSES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE."> THE D-O-J LAUNCHED THEIR INITATIVE AROUND THANKSGIVING...THEY SAY áLANDLORDS ARE CRITICAL IN áSTOPPING THESE BUSINESSES BY LETTING LAW ENFORCEMENT KNOW AND TERMINATING THEIR LEASES. < "WE'RE ALSO ASKING FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION THEY MAY HAVE THAT COULD HELP US TO IDENTIFY THESE BUSINESSES."> <"THEY MIGHT HAVE BOARDED UP WINDOWS, THEY MAY HAVE OPERATING HOURS THAT ARE NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FOR AN ABOVE BOARD MASSAGE ESTABLISHMENT."> ADVOCATES SAY THIS WORK IS NEEDED TO GET VICTIMS áOUT OF THESE TRAUMATIC ENVIRONMENTS AND ONTO THE ROAD TOWARDS HEALING. <"GLAD TO SEE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WORKING TO SHUT DOWN ILLICIT MASSAGE BUSINESSES AND THEN LOOKING AHEAD TO CONTINUED ENFORCEMENT AND PREVENTION AS WE MOVE FORWARD."> LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS SHUT DOWN AT LEAST 15 SPOTS...BUT THE D-O-J'S WORK IS NOT OVER YET... <" I'M PART OF THE EFFORT HERE IS TO IDENTIFY ANY NEW, ILLICIT BUSINESSES THAT DO, POP UP. AND WE CERTAINLY WILL FOCUS ON THOSE, AS WELL AS THE REMAINING, BUSINESSES THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED."> THE A-G'S OFFICE PLANS TO KEEP THIS INITIATIVE GOING UNTIL áEVERY ILLICIT BUSINESS IS SHUT DOWN. FREE AND CONFIDENTIAL HELP IS OUT THERE. THERE ARE 12 DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE CRISIS CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE
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      Updated: 1:14 AM EDT Jul 11, 2025
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      At least 15 known illicit massage businesses shut down in New Hampshire, AG says
      WMUR logo
      Updated: 1:14 AM EDT Jul 11, 2025
      Editorial Standards
      The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office announced Wednesday that more than 40% of known illicit massage businesses in the state have been shut down.Several law enforcement agencies launched a targeted enforcement campaign in November 2024.Officials said these businesses, which pose as massage parlors, are often times in areas near school, day care or residential areas. Authorities said behind closed doors, the parlors are fronts for organized trafficking operations.“These are not real spas — they are hubs of organized trafficking hiding in plain sight,” Attorney General John Formella said in a statement. “They profit from the abuse of vulnerable women and have no place in our state.” Meg Chant, program director of The Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, described what the fronts may look like."They might have boarded up windows, they might have operating hours that are not what you would expect for an above board massage establishment," Chant said.>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<The Department of Justice confirmed the closure of at least 15 locations in Derry, Londonderry, Hudson, Merrimack, Manchester, Dover, Salem and Somersworth.Officials with the state attorney general's office said that no one has been arrested or charged in connection with the initiative, adding that investigators are initially focused on shutting the businesses down."Part of the effort here is to identify any new, illicit businesses that do pop up. And we certainly will focus on those, as well as the remaining businesses that we have identified," said Assistant Attorney General Alexandra Kellerman.News 9 Investigates has been following efforts by police and lawmakers to crack down on these operations, including in Derry, where town officials passed an ordinance with stricter requirements for massage businesses, enabling the town to send cease-and-desist orders to six of the businesses for multiple violations.Work was also done at the State House, where legislation recently passed by the New Hampshire House and Senate would increase the penalty for prostitution from a misdemeanor to a felony.Some of the illicit activity connected to massage businesses in the state includes sex acts for money. News 9 Investigates learned that a New York woman was recently arrested by Derry police and charged with prostitution for allegedly engaging in sexual contact with a client at a business offering massages.News 9 Investigates also learned that the leader of a violent sex trafficking and prostitution ring based in New York and operating in New Hampshire was found guilty of federal charges in November. Federal court paperwork did not say where in New Hampshire it happened, but it detailed the inner workings of the sex trafficking organization where workers were beaten and their hands zip-tied, leaving them terrified and often seriously injured.Chant released a statement about Wednesday's announcement from the state attorney general's office."This marks a significant step forward in New Hampshire’s fight against human trafficking, but our work is far from finished," Chant said in a statement. "Trafficking continues to impact individuals in all 10 counties across the state, and we have a collective responsibility to do more — to protect survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent future harm."Representatives from the coalition said they will be working closely with the Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force to push for a statewide licensing process for massage businesses. "We’ll also be working with landlords and property owners to raise awareness and help prevent traffickers from operating under the radar," coalition representatives said in a news release. "This is a critical moment to move from enforcement to long-term prevention — and we’re committed to helping lead that effort."Chant said this work is needed to get victims out of these traumatic environments and onto the road towards healing."Glad to see the Department of Justice working to shut down illicit massage businesses and then looking ahead to continued enforcement and prevention as we move forward," she said.Landlords who believe that an illicit massage business is operating on their property can call the New Hampshire Department of Justice's Anti-Trafficking Hotline at 603-271-9703.>> Subscribe to WMUR's YouTube channel <<

      The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office announced Wednesday that more than 40% of known illicit massage businesses in the state have been shut down.

      Several law enforcement agencies launched a targeted enforcement campaign in November 2024.

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      Officials said these businesses, which pose as massage parlors, are often times in areas near school, day care or residential areas.

      Authorities said behind closed doors, the parlors are fronts for organized trafficking operations.

      “These are not real spas — they are hubs of organized trafficking hiding in plain sight,” Attorney General John Formella said in a statement. “They profit from the abuse of vulnerable women and have no place in our state.”

      Meg Chant, program director of The Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, described what the fronts may look like.

      "They might have boarded up windows, they might have operating hours that are not what you would expect for an above board massage establishment," Chant said.

      >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<

      The Department of Justice confirmed the closure of at least 15 locations in Derry, Londonderry, Hudson, Merrimack, Manchester, Dover, Salem and Somersworth.

      Officials with the state attorney general's office said that no one has been arrested or charged in connection with the initiative, adding that investigators are initially focused on shutting the businesses down.

      "Part of the effort here is to identify any new, illicit businesses that do pop up. And we certainly will focus on those, as well as the remaining businesses that we have identified," said Assistant Attorney General Alexandra Kellerman.

      News 9 Investigates has been following efforts by police and lawmakers to crack down on these operations, including in Derry, where town officials passed an ordinance with stricter requirements for massage businesses, enabling the town to send cease-and-desist orders to six of the businesses for multiple violations.

      Work was also done at the State House, where legislation recently passed by the New Hampshire House and Senate would increase the penalty for prostitution from a misdemeanor to a felony.

      Some of the illicit activity connected to massage businesses in the state includes sex acts for money. News 9 Investigates learned that a New York woman was recently arrested by Derry police and charged with prostitution for allegedly engaging in sexual contact with a client at a business offering massages.

      News 9 Investigates also learned that the leader of a violent sex trafficking and prostitution ring based in New York and operating in New Hampshire was found guilty of federal charges in November. Federal court paperwork did not say where in New Hampshire it happened, but it detailed the inner workings of the sex trafficking organization where workers were beaten and their hands zip-tied, leaving them terrified and often seriously injured.

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      Chant released a statement about Wednesday's announcement from the state attorney general's office.

      "This marks a significant step forward in New Hampshire’s fight against human trafficking, but our work is far from finished," Chant said in a statement. "Trafficking continues to impact individuals in all 10 counties across the state, and we have a collective responsibility to do more — to protect survivors, hold perpetrators accountable, and prevent future harm."

      Representatives from the coalition said they will be working closely with the Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force to push for a statewide licensing process for massage businesses.

      "We’ll also be working with landlords and property owners to raise awareness and help prevent traffickers from operating under the radar," coalition representatives said in a news release. "This is a critical moment to move from enforcement to long-term prevention — and we’re committed to helping lead that effort."

      Chant said this work is needed to get victims out of these traumatic environments and onto the road towards healing.

      "Glad to see the Department of Justice working to shut down illicit massage businesses and then looking ahead to continued enforcement and prevention as we move forward," she said.

      Landlords who believe that an illicit massage business is operating on their property can call the New Hampshire Department of Justice's Anti-Trafficking Hotline at 603-271-9703.

      >> Subscribe to WMUR's YouTube channel <<