WINK Noticias: Natural Oil Spa massage center connected to human trafficking?

(Translated from Spanish with Google Translate)

Investigators spent several hours at Natural Oil Spa, a massage center in Fort Myers, Tuesday afternoon. However, this is not the first time this has happened. In July, an employee was arrested for prostitution at this very massage parlor, but the case was closed.

After searching the massage center, Tuesday, authorities went to a Cape Coral home near Veterans Parkway at 21 Southwest Avenue. We know the two investigations are connected. Investigators removed evidence in bags and boxes from the home and business. Wink News spoke to the homeowner’s attorney in Cape Coral and said they don’t have many details at this time, but will release a statement later. A witness said the premises were guarded for a week.

“People would come, see the officers and then leave, they didn’t go in,” says Leah, who works in the Key West Plaza near McGregor Blvd. According to online comments from customers and business owners in the area, the spa remained open until late at night, out of the ordinary for this type of business. It is not yet known whether this case involves human trafficking. However, Karen Harmon of The Shelter for Abused Women & Children says it is important to recognize the signs, such as addictions and little access to money, as well as zero legal documentation.

“The most common human trafficking is sex trafficking,” she said. “Of human trafficking cases, 87% are sex trafficking and most of the victims are women.”

The Wink News team discovered that the owner of Natural Oil Spa also owns three other spas, including Lavendar Spa in Fort Myers, where there was an arrest in 2019 after an employee attempted to have sex with an undercover agent.