SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Spokane Valley Police may soon receive additional support to address sex trafficking in the area.
For around two years, detectives have been investigating illicit massage businesses in Spokane Valley.
SVPD Detective Michael Keys said that 77% of the 17 identified illicit businesses have been shut down. However, challenges remain in addressing the remaining 23%.
“These businesses are run by an organized criminal network,” said Detective Keys. “This is not a mom-and-pop shop. This is organized crime that is occurring.”
A 2023 ordinance aimed to crack down on these operations, but law enforcement has faced difficulties enforcing city code.
In response, the Spokane Valley City Council is considering revisions to the ordinance, including additional business license regulations and making violations a criminal offense.
“These changes will give investigators additional tools to address human trafficking in Spokane Valley,” said Spokane Valley Police Chief Dave Ellis.
He said these businesses often target vulnerable populations, including individuals trafficked from other countries and isolated from their families.
According to The Network, an anti-human trafficking organization, the illicit massage industry is one of the largest sex trafficking markets in the U.S., generating over $5 billion annually.
Detective Keys said cultural barriers can make it difficult to help victims exit this lifestyle but that the department remains committed to eliminating trafficking in the jurisdiction.
“If we can’t help them leave, the next best thing is to stop them from being trafficked here,” he stated.
The Spokane Valley City Council is set to vote on these revisions next week.
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