LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) is joining forces with Metro government and other local agencies to form a task force targeting illegal massage parlors across the city. Experts say these businesses often act as fronts for human trafficking and exploitation.
Out of roughly 375 massage businesses in Jefferson County, police estimate that 35 to 40 operate illegally. Officer Dan Marsden of LMPD’s Sixth Division said many of these establishments serve as fronts for organized exploitation.
“I think we can really squeeze them out, help victims, and hold bad actors accountable,” Marsden said. “Whether it’s by making it too costly for them to keep operating or by pursuing criminal charges in some cases.”
Personal motivation behind the mission
For Officer Marsden, the effort to combat human exploitation is deeply personal.
“I was born and raised in Germany,” he said. “I came to this country on my own and was left at the airport in Portland, Oregon, when I first arrived. I was a homeless teenager from day one, and when you don’t have anyone in your corner, people will take advantage of you.”
Marsden’s wife, originally from the Philippines, also experienced trafficking firsthand. He shared that she was confined in a house in Manila for about ten months.
Addressing the issue through accountability
Marsden hopes to introduce a system requiring customers to provide identification and massage therapists to record their names and services — an approach modeled after a Florida state law that has successfully reduced illegal operations.
“It’s a very complex issue,” Marsden explained. “There are a lot of nuances, especially because many of the women working in these places are middle-aged and come from Asia — mainly Korea or China, but also Thailand, Europe, and Russia. In many of these cultures, there’s a lot of shame attached to this kind of exploitation.”
He emphasized that most victims rarely come forward, so outreach is crucial.
“Basically, if you close one of these here in Louisville, you’re preventing 20-plus women from being exploited at that location,” he said.
A national problem with local impact
Marsden noted that illegal massage parlors are part of a $5 billion industry nationwide. He believes Louisville’s task force can set a precedent for other cities.
“If we can clean up our city and make it clear that we won’t tolerate exploitation, we’ll make it nearly impossible for this kind of business to thrive here,” Marsden said. “We could really provide national leadership on how to handle this issue.”
The new task force stems from an ordinance proposed by Metro Councilman Jeff Hudson and includes partners such as Metro Alcoholic Beverage Control and the local Public Health Department.
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