MARYSVILLE
The Marysville Police Department announced Thursday that it has shut down 21 illicit massage businesses since initiating an investigation in May 2025.
According to a press release, the department received information indicating that illicit massage establishments in the city were connected to a larger network operating throughout the region.
Police Chief Erik Scairpon stated in the release that human trafficking networks depend on storefronts that blend into the community. Scairpon noted that by improving licensing oversight and coordinating closely with regional partners, the department was able to shut down illicit massage businesses and stop attempts to reopen.
Through victim interviews, police discovered that some of these businesses were operating as part of a broader international trafficking network, the release said. The ProAct Unit of the Marysville Police Department conducted an investigation, including undercover operations, search warrants, community engagement and a full review of licensing procedures.
Their investigation identified 23 suspected businesses, of which 21 were confirmed illicit and shut down, and attempts to reopen under new business names or addresses were stopped, the release said.
Case findings include:
Eight closed by criminal investigation
Five closed by administrative investigation (inspection)
Six rejected by administrative investigation denial of business license
One closed by itself
One withdrew request to open
Community concerns played a key role in driving the investigation forward, Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring said in the release.
This investigation shows what can happen when community members speak up and our officers take decisive action, he said.
The businesses closed due to a variety of means, such as denial of business licensure, criminal investigation and public safety inspections based on concerns from the community, the release said. Police arrested several individuals on suspicion of promoting prostitution and permitting prostitution.
The Network said the Marysville Police Department is the first agency in the county to adopt an enforcement strategy aimed at the full illicit massage business structure, including licensing and operations, the release said.
After Marysville ProAct officers received specialized training, they hosted a regional training event for nearby jurisdictions in December to strengthen regional awareness, improve investigative consistency and help agencies identify the businesses patterns early.
Partners included The Network, the Snohomish County Prosecutors Office, a licensed massage therapist and Marysville Police staff, the release said.
This industry doesnt exist by accident, said Marysville Police Departments crime and intelligence analyst Emily Dorscher, in the release. The fact that there are over 15,000 IMBs in the United States that generate over $5 billion annually is because of an elaborate business structure mixed with a set of circumstances that we cant control. As a local agency, we had to find something we could control, and it was through our licensing process.
Marysville police is not the only local law enforcement agency turning its focus to illicit massage parlors. In July, the Lynnwood Police Department took a married couple into custody on suspicion of promoting prostitution at a massage parlor following a months-long investigation.
Officers started investigating after a man told police he was propositioned for sex during a massage at a different parlor in the same strip mall, a regional outlet previously reported .
Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the CiCi Spa location, gathering physical evidence and speaking with two female employees who were believed to be working at the establishment. The subsequent investigation led to the apprehension of a 35-year-old female and a 47-year-old male, both of whom were taken into custody from their residence in Kenmore on July 29.