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15 nabbed in anti- prostitution drive
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Posted on Nov 12 1999
Fifteen people, mostly Chinese, were arrrested yesterday by the Department of Public Safety for allegedly soliciting prostitution, as the combined team of police, labor and immigration officers swooped down on bars and karaoke clubs in the main tourist district of Garapan.
This is the third raid conducted this year by a combined team of police, immigration and labor officials in a move to curb the growing flesh trade on the island.
The eight women and seven men arrested were working in karaoke and bars believed to be prostitution fronts, according to Maj. Clyde Norita, assistant chief of the Office for Special Services of DPS. Of these, four establishments had been raided in the past namely Diamond, Hibiscus, Fujiya and CU Karaoke Bars.
“We will keep on attacking these prostitution fronts as long as they continue to operate,” said Norita. Assisting DPS was the labor division, which checked on the business licenses of the establishments, while immigration officers inspected the working papers of those arrested.
Six police officers assigned in the Operation Red Light III conducted a two-week surveillance before the launching the crackdown. A team of 21 police officers and 17 personnel from the Department of Labor and Immigration started the operation around 9:15 p.m.
As of 12:00 a.m., police officers were still interviewing and processing those arrested. They will be detained at the Division of Corrections while awaiting bail hearing.
Two of the suspects had been arrested in the previous raid.
Business leaders and hotel executives have expressed concern on the growing prostitution in Garapan which they said adversely affects the image of the Northern Marianas as a wholesome tourist destination.
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio had earlier asked government agencies to strengthen cooperation and efforts in clamping down on the proliferation of prostitution on the island.
The CNMI government has expressed concern on allegations that Asian women, mostly Chinese and Filipinos, are being smuggled into the Northern Marianas and sold as prostitutes to brothels.
