Trafficking in Massage Parlors
According to the 2026 State of Human Trafficking Report, nationwide, there are now more illicit massage businesses across the country than there are McDonald’s. The exploitation in this industry generates approximately $5 billion dollars annually. This sheer volume of human rights abuse is not an estimate or a projection. In 2024, 17,276 illicit massage parlors were identified as operating across the country.
Recent massage parlor busts in cities like Bothell and Kirkland have proven the illicit massage industry is thriving in Washington. In the 2026 State of Human Trafficking Report, published by Allies Against Slavery, Washington state actually ranks first for the highest concentration of illicit massage parlors when the ranking is done by population.
Unlike other types of sex trafficking, the targeted victims of illicit massage trafficking tend to be older women. Most are between the ages of 35 and 65, and they are often being blackmailed by their traffickers due to debt bondage, or they have extreme financial needs to support their families. The exploitation in illicit massage parlors often includes both sex trafficking and labor trafficking. Women are forced to work extremely long hours seven days a week. Not only are they forced to do sex acts, but they are also required to cook, clean, and do other work in order to support the storefront business.
Some of the warning signs that a massage parlor may be participating in human trafficking include having covered windows, having a steady stream of mostly male customers, and being open late hours. Legitimate massage therapy is a licensed health profession in Washington. Consumers can look up a business’s credentials through the Washington State Department of Health to review whether a practitioner is properly licensed.
This year, some Western Washington cities are cracking down on illicit massage parlors. The Bothell Police Department just shut down five illicit massage parlors during a bust. And the Federal Way City Council recently passed an ordinance banning all massage businesses from operating between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am. They have also prohibited massage businesses from accepting cash transactions.
Nationwide, the top three cities with the most illicit massage parlors are Los Angeles, New York, and Houston. But when taking a second look at the problem by factoring in population, the top rankings change, and Albuquerque, Houston, Seattle, San Diego, and San Jose have the highest per capita concentrations.