Police, Border Patrol Raid Asian Massage Parlor in Rockland

The Rockland Police Department and U.S. Border Patrol were involved in a raid at an Asian massage parlor in Rockland on Thursday.

Photos of the raid obtained by the Maine Wire show a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Patrol vehicle parked outside of the 193 Park St. Asian Massage location.

Rockland Police Chief Timothy Carroll confirmed to the Maine Wire on Thursday that the operation at the massage parlor was part of an active investigation and that the department will be putting out a press release as soon as possible.

The Maine Wire called Asian Massage on Friday to ask about the incident.

A female employee answered the phone, who said she was unaware of Thursday’s police response to the parlor, and claimed she did not know who the owner of the massage parlor is.

Photo taken Thursday afternoon shows a Border Patrol vehicle outside of Asian Massage, located at 193 Park St. in Rockland

The Maine Wire has also reached out to a CBP spokesperson for additional information regarding Border Patrol’s involvement in the raid.

The Rockland Asian Massage parlor at 193 Park St. was registered with the Maine Bureau of Corporations under the name “Tranquil Lotus Spa Inc.” on June 17, 2024, by an individual named Tao Tian.

The phone number listed for the Asian Massage parlor in Rockland is also associated with Waldoboro Asian Massage, located at 3499 Atlantic Hwy in Waldoboro, a location that now appears to be permanently closed.

State records show that a corporation named “Waldoboro Asian Massage Inc.” was registered in May 2023 at the same Atlantic Highway address, also by Tao Tian.

Tian also appears to have been the registered agent for “Nirvana Spa Inc.” in September 2021, located at 10 Foch St. in Lewiston.

There have been multiple instances this year of massage parlors in Maine being raided by law enforcement due to suspected sex trafficking and forced labor.

In September, 58-year-old Richard Qiu of Brooklyn, N.Y., owner of multiple massage parlors throughout Maine, was arrested by Lewiston Police and charged with two counts of sex trafficking (Class D and Class E), forced labor and criminal forfeiture

Police said they found video recording equipment, condoms and over $12,000 cash in suspected sex trafficking proceeds at a parlor in Lewiston owned by Qiu.

In May of this year, 45-year-old Changsheng Xiao, also of N.Y., was arrested in Portland at his massage parlor location on Forest Avenue and was charged with criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and aggravated sex trafficking.

This story is developing and will be updated with additional information.