Collier County Sheriff's Office combats human trafficking by shutting down illegal massage parlors

Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk has spent the last two years shutting down illegal massage parlors in the county, using a new Florida law to combat human trafficking and protect potential victims.

“It’s been a very successful two years. Our commitment to stopping human trafficking starts with that type of operation,” Rambosk said.

Detectives identified more than a dozen brothels operating under the guise of massage parlors in strip malls across the county.

However, they relied on House Bill 197, known as the Massage Parlor Act, to put these businesses out of operation.

“We’ve been doing everything we can do. We have an excellent exploitation unit, but when you look at enforcement after the fact, the crime has already been committed. We wanted a preventative, proactive approach to stopping victimization,” Rambosk said.

Lt. Wade Williams of the Intercept Task Force detailed the impact of the law, which took effect in July 2024.

“We identified 20 businesses in Collier County. The law took effect in July of 2024; we shut down 17 of those locations,” Williams said.

The Massage Parlor Act requires businesses to keep their windows uncovered, display employee massage licenses, and have customers show identification and sign in. These measures aim to deter exploitation and help law enforcement combat modern-day slavery.

“There’s a potential for hundreds of victims through those 20 different locations in Collier County, but by shutting down those 17 locations, we’ve now reduced those hundreds of victims that potentially were being victimized in our community,” Williams said.

The investigation has expanded to the Gulf Coast, with the Intercept Task Force leading efforts. Last month, the task force arrested 10 people during Operation Red Light, raiding homes and businesses in Cape Coral. The operation rescued women and girls from brothels operating in strip malls and neighborhoods.

“When we can effect a rescue — and we’ve probably done 20 to 25 throughout the last five to eight years — we try to get them to a partner, which is the shelter. They are terrific at trying to separate the victim from the trafficker,” Rambosk said.

The sheriff encourages residents to stay vigilant and report suspicious situations, such as a young woman alone with a group of men or a girl who appears frightened. Reports can be made anonymously to Crime Stoppers and could save lives.