Executive Summary
- Stoneham Police and the FBI Boston Human Trafficking Task Force conducted coordinated inspections of three local spas.
- Two businesses, Natural Healing of Asia and All Season Spa, were shut down for code violations.
- The operation targeted the “bodyworks” licensing loophole often used to mask illicit activity.
- Employees were offered victim assistance and resources for reporting exploitation.
STONEHAM, Mass. — State and local inspectors, supported by the FBI Boston Human Trafficking Task Force, ordered the immediate closure of two “bodyworks” establishments on Friday as part of a multi-agency investigation into alleged human trafficking operations, according to the Stoneham Police Department.
Authorities executed coordinated inspections at three businesses in the area following months of surveillance. According to a press release issued by Stoneham police, inspectors from the Stoneham Board of Health, the Stoneham Building Department, and the Massachusetts Occupational Licensing Division found significant code violations at two of the locations. The businesses, identified as Natural Healing of Asia and All Season Spa on Montvale Avenue, were ordered to cease operations immediately. Police stated the establishments will remain shuttered until they achieve full compliance with state and local regulations.
Stoneham Police Chief James O’Connor stated that the inspections were part of an initiative designed to address businesses operating under the “bodyworks” classification. Police noted this designation has historically been used to circumvent strict massage therapy licensing requirements, potentially masking illicit activities and trafficking networks. “The objective of this operation was to ensure compliance… and identify potential indicators of human trafficking,” police wrote in the release.
During the operation, law enforcement personnel provided employees at the spas with information regarding victim assistance and pathways to report coercion or unsafe working conditions. The initiative mirrors similar enforcement actions taken in neighboring Methuen last fall.
Regulatory Enforcement Strategy
This operation highlights a strategic approach by law enforcement to utilize municipal code and health regulations as an immediate mechanism to disrupt suspected criminal enterprises. By targeting the regulatory “bodyworks” loophole, authorities can force the cessation of operations and intervene in potential trafficking situations through administrative channels while criminal investigations proceed. This method allows for immediate public safety measures while the broader federal investigation continues.
It is important to note that while the businesses have been shut down for regulatory violations, the investigation is ongoing, and any individuals involved are presumed innocent of criminal charges until proven guilty in a court of law.
