This week, a major operation led by the Arkansas Attorney Generals office, in collaboration with several law enforcement agencies, resulted in a series of state-wide raids aimed at combating human trafficking.
Attorney General Griffin stated that the raids were focused on massage parlors across the state as part of Operation Obscured Vision. He confirmed that 17 victims were identified, with assistance provided to 16 of them following the execution of 12 search warrants. One victim declined help, he added. According to Griffin, all the victims were Chinese nationals.
“I am proud to announce that local law enforcement, with coordination by my office, executed 12 search warrants at illicit massage parlors in Jonesboro, Russellville, Hot Springs, Rogers, Harrison, and a Little Rock hotel,” Griffin said. “I congratulate the local police officers, sheriff’s deputies, the Arkansas State Police, and Special Agents in my office for successfully executing this operation.”
Griffin noted that four individuals were arrested during the raids and are now facing charges of promoting prostitution in the second degree. The arrested individuals were identified as 54-year-old Haiyan Lu of Harrison; 53-year-old Qing Chen of Jonesboro; 55-year-old Hongliang Cai of Jonesboro; and 50-year-old Chunli Wang of Rogers.
During a Friday afternoon news conference, Griffin revealed that another operation was ongoing in Harrison, where an additional arrest was taking place. He also reported that nearly $70,000 was seized, along with ¥1,870 in Chinese currency, and a Mercedes-Benz was confiscated.
Griffin explained that the operation had been two years in the making.
“I am grateful to members of the Arkansas General Assembly and Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for their support of adding a full-time human trafficking investigator to my office,” Griffin said. “That Special Agent worked tirelessly to coordinate this operation, and it wouldn’t have happened without the agent’s efforts.”
The attorney general described how trafficking victims are often women seeking asylum who come to the U.S. in response to an advertisement, only to find themselves coerced into working at illicit massage parlors. One victim shared with investigators that she had been forced to work 13 hours a day, seven days a week, in one such establishment.
Griffin emphasized that this operation would lead to changes in state laws.
“This operation is just a first step,” the attorney general said. “The intelligence and evidence obtained through Operation Obscured Vision will be used in ongoing investigations and will aid in targeting similar massage parlors elsewhere in the state. The criminals who run these establishments and the men who patronize them are on notice. We are coming for you, and we will put an end to this horrific practice of exploiting women through human trafficking.”
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