ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Albuquerque police teamed up with state agents to take down a suspected illegal massage parlor. 

Mei Chien Wu faced a judge Thursday after getting arrested, and it’s not the first time she’s been connected to this kind of crime.

On Wednesday morning, state agents raided a massage parlor off Lomas near 12th Street in downtown Albuquerque. Investigators say they had to bust through the front door to get in.

An investigation began in June after agents say they found the massage parlor advertising on a commercial prostitution website. 

Agents say they linked Wu to the business and discovered she was also the suspect of a human trafficking, and prostitution investigation in California in 2011 and 2016.

Wu allegedly tried to leave the Albuquerque parlor when agents showed up with a search warrant. 

They found two women inside along with multiple cell phones and thousands in cash. 

“I’m happy that they were able to close this business down, and those that are free doing it and those that are promoting it can be held to the full extent of the law,” said APD Chief Harold Medina. 

Medina talked about how the department’s High Risk Victims Unit played a role in this investigation.

“We recognize there may be some people that are trapped in it who are being trafficked, and we need to deal with those individuals also as victims with respect and empathy,” said Medina. 

One of the women reportedly told agents she had been at the business for nine days, and she had not been paid for any work.

Wu’s attorney argued she has minimal criminal history and has family here and should be released.

The judge agreed and Wu was released while her case plays out in the justice system.