Cash, jewelry and drugs found at suspected human trafficking locations in Macomb County – Macomb Daily

Thousands of dollars in cash, high-end jewelry and a small amount of cocaine were confiscated at several Macomb County locations that were raided this week in a suspected human trafficking operation, officials said. authorities announced Thursday.

The Macomb County Sheriff's Enforcement Team (SET) took the items while executing search warrants at two massage parlors and two residences Wednesday morning. They also arrested six people, while federal authorities made six additional arrests.

Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said the investigation was sparked by a complaint the department received about one of the massage parlors that ended up being raided.

“Obviously, an investigation cannot be carried out overnight; it took us a while to connect all the dots,” he said.

Agents from the SET Team, Sterling Heights Police Department, FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol served search warrants Wednesday morning at 25 Health Spa in Shelby Township, Healing Plus Spa in Sterling Heights, to a residence in Macomb Township and to a residence in Shelby Township.

Additionally, the SET Team conducted an additional search of a home in Warren on Wednesday evening. The search was aimed at obtaining social control based on information provided by those taken into custody earlier in the day. Investigators said they were told a woman was being held there, but that claim was unfounded.

Investigators confiscated $25,300 in cash, jewelry and a small amount of cocaine at all four locations.

The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office charged seven of the suspects Thursday with prostitution crimes, keeping a brothel, conspiracy and other crimes. They were identified as Chun Jin, 48, of Macomb Township; his wife, Chengai Jin, 54; Zhanghuan Peng, 50, of Utica; Jie Liang, 61, of Eastpointe; and Jun Zhou, 49 of Utica

Jorge Ruiz-Diaz, 22, of Utica, was charged with possession of a controlled substance less than 25 grams, a four-year misdemeanor, and disorderly person. Yeong Sil Kim, 63 of Utica, was charged with misdemeanor counts of boarding and solicitation of prostitution and disorderly person, while Lin Jun Zhou, 49 of Utica, was charged with boarding and solicitation.

“Charging individuals involved in human trafficking is not just about enforcing the law; it’s about dismantling networks that exploit and dehumanize innocent people,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido.

They are expected to be arraigned Friday in 41A District Court, a sheriff's office spokesperson said.

Sheriff Wickersham said this is the second large-scale human trafficking investigation the department has conducted in the past year. There doesn't appear to be a single person in charge of operations, but rather distinct groups of people who start the businesses, he added.

“This is something we've seen over the last few years in these human trafficking organizations,” Wickersham said.

“There are many young workers who are driven from companies to a residence where many people live in deplorable conditions and have no means of personal transportation. They have no freedom.

The investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriff's office.

Anyone who may be involved in human trafficking can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888 for assistance.