A significant sex trafficking operation in Houston, Texas, led to raids being carried out on nine bars and clubs last week.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) and the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance led the raids, with help from the FBI, state police, and local police.
The TABC said the raids resulted from an approximate 10-year investigation that helped identify at least 50 potential victims.
“This operation was a massive undertaking that is likely the largest of its kind in Texas history,” TABC Chairman Kevin J. Lilly in a statement, according to FOX 26 Houston.
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Houston, Texas
The Largest Human Sex-Trafficking Operation in Texas History was just Broken up, Involving the Cartels and Nine Different Nightclubs
• Bora Bora Sports Bar
• El Flamingo
• El Cruzero Sports Bar
• El Rinconcita Night Club
• Koko Bongo
• La Condesa
•… pic.twitter.com/ENJBr4v5DZ— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) October 22, 2024
FOX 26 Houston reports:
All nine locations received the suspensions under Alcoholic Beverage Code Sec. 11.614.
ADVERTISEMENTThe code allows for the emergency suspensions if a business poses a “continuing threat to the public welfare.”
“Our primary goal tonight was to shut down these hives of criminal activity and to put a stop to the continued victimization of the people held there against their will. This investigation is not over, and we’ll be working closely with our partners in HTRA to track down all of the suspected traffickers involved in these heinous crimes,” wrote Lilly.
The suspended businesses included:
- El Flamingo Club
- Koko Bongo
- Los Escorpiones #2
- Los Escorpiones #5
- El Cruzero Sports Bar
- Bora Bora Sports Bar
- El Rinconcito Night Club
- La Condesa
- Las Margaritas Night Club
FOX 26 Houston later reported the investigation revealed 84 potential human trafficking victims.
NEW: 84 victims identified in sex trafficking bust that shut down Houston 9 bars https://t.co/BhePyTJYtl
— FOX26Houston (@FOX26Houston) October 23, 2024
At least 50 s*x tr@fficking survivors rescued after raids on 9 Houston-area businesses with drug cartel ties was busted in Houston last night
Authorities believe this could be the “largest operation of its kind in Texas history”.
Full article: https://t.co/o4zBJS7rxE pic.twitter.com/ciocW3banV
— Shepherd’s Watch Foundation (@ShepherdsWatchF) October 19, 2024
Per ABC13 Houston:
The TABC says it declined the name of the cartel behind the trafficking operation, but said that each business contained between 10 and 20 women on average.
“They weren’t living in there, but that’s where sex acts were being conducted,” Lilly said.
The TABC said it filed emergency orders to shut down all nine businesses for the next 90 days.
ADVERTISEMENT“That goes into effect immediately. They are chained and locked,” he said.
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