4 arrested in searches of massage parlors in 6 Arkansas towns - Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

[Grant Lancaster]

Arkansas law enforcement arrested four Chinese nationals linked to the operation of illicit massage parlors across the state and suspected to have engaged in human trafficking, Attorney General Tim Griffin said Friday during a news conference.

Local officers, coordinated by the attorney general's office, served 12 search warrants over the past few days at parlors in Jonesboro, Russellville, Hot Springs, Rogers, Harrison and Little Rock, Griffin said. Authorities also made contact with 17 victims, 16 of whom accepted aid from medical personal and victims' services groups.

The four women arrested were Haiyan Lu, 54, of Harrison; Qing Chen, 53, and Hongliang Cai, 55, both of Jonesboro; and Chunli Wang, 50, of Rogers, Griffin said. Wang faces a second-degree sexual assault charge while the other three are charged with second-degree promoting prostitution.