Following numerous complaints by residents and a detailed investigation spanning several months, Methuen Police cracked down hard on a local massage parlor, resulting in its closure and the charging of its manager with serious offenses including human trafficking. Methuen Police Department named Suping Zhu, 38, from Flushing, N.Y., as the individual arrested on charges that included deriving support from prostitution, being keeper of a house of ill fame, and trafficking a person for sexual servitude.
During the search warrant execution on September 4 at Beauty Garden Spa, situated at 5 Wallace St., police discovered that the basement was set up as living quarters for two women—a condition which city authorities deemed a violation—ordering an immediate business shutdown. The investigation, spurred by resident complaints, unfolded through surveillance efforts and undercover operations, leading to the arrest of Zhu, who was apprehended without incident on September 26. She is set to be arraigned in Lawrence District Court.
Chief Scott McNamara delivered a stern warning on the Methuen Police website in the wake of the shutdown: "This operation marks the first blow in our aggressive campaign to eradicate human trafficking and sexual servitude in Methuen," he stated. The Methuen Police, together with Mayor Beauregard, made it clear that this action was only the beginning of a broader effort. "We are coming for you, and we will shut down your illegal enterprises with determined action," McNamara added, targeting both the operators and patrons—"johns"—of these establishments.
Highlighting the health and safety violations, Director of Public Health Caeli Tegan Zampach emphasized on the Methuen Police website, "Living in a business or commercial unit is unsafe, violates municipal and state codes, and will be subject to enforcement." The Beauty Garden Spa has remained closed since the search warrant execution, and additional charges under investigation could further the legal consequences for Zhu and any others implicated.
The swoop by the Methuen Police did not happen in isolation. The department recognized the collaborative efforts of the Lawrence Police Department, Essex County District Attorney’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Internal Revenue Service, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Methuen's Mayor D.J. Beauregard underscored his zero-tolerance policy for human trafficking, declaring on the Methuen Police website, "We will identify and apprehend traffickers, shut down every business in Methuen that profits from this evil, and hold landlords accountable if they harbor them—we will find you, and we are coming after you next."
As the investigation is ongoing, officials urge the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity related to similar illegal operations. The fight against human trafficking and sexual servitude continues to be a priority for law enforcers and the broader community in Methuen, alike in their resolve to see these crimes eradicated fully from their streets.
