Homeland Security and NCIS assist in major human trafficking raid in resort town
Ping Zhang (Photo courtesy of the Virginia Beach Police Department)
Three people were arrested in connection to a human trafficking and prostitution investigation at several massage businesses in Virginia Beach and Portsmouth, Virginia.
Virginia Beach police charged Xiaochung Peng, 55, Xiaoqin Wu, 58, and Ping Zhang, 53, with maintaining a bawdy place, aiding prostitution, and use of a vehicle in the commission of a crime, according to a release from the police department.
Virginia human trafficking investigation
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An investigation by authorities determined that several women linked to the massage businesses were living at a home in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Xiaoqin Wu (Photo courtesy of the Virginia Beach Police Department)
Law enforcement officials performed surveillance over several months and determined that people were traveling between the residence and the massage businesses using various cars.
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Detectives obtained search warrants for the home and four business locations which later resulted in the arrests of Xiaochung Peng, Xiaoqin Wu, 58, and Ping Zhang.
Xiaochung Peng (Photo courtesy of the Virginia Beach Police Department)
Authorities also seized $55,085 in cash, four vehicles, and multiple electronic devices, including phones, computers, and a security DVR system.
The Virginia Beach Police Department collaborated with Homeland Security Investigations, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Virginia State Police and SWAT, the Virginia Fusion Center, and members of the Hampton Roads Human Trafficking Task Force.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by a Virginia Beach Police Department release. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.