The NYPD raided a notorious migrant-run brothel in Queens' "Market of Sweethearts," arresting sex workers and customers in a crime-ridden area where prostitution, theft, and drug activity have surged amid New York City's migrant crisis.
The NYPD conducted a late-night raid Wednesday on a notorious migrant-run brothel along Queens’ infamous “Market of Sweethearts,” a stretch of Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights known for its lawlessness. Officers from the vice squad and the 110th Precinct stormed the storefront, apprehending both sex workers and customers, officials confirmed.
“This brothel was the worst of the worst,” said Democratic district leader Hiram Monserrate, a former state lawmaker. “It operates 24 hours.” Monserrate explained that many of the sex workers were forced into prostitution to pay off debts of up to $50,000 owed to human traffickers. He credited *The New York Post* for exposing the situation, linking the rise in crime to the ongoing migrant crisis. “Some of them are part of organized crime rings,” Monserrate added, highlighting the challenges law enforcement faces in maintaining control in the area.
The NYPD has carried out multiple raids along the block, seizing stolen goods and shutting down illegal operations, but the criminal activity often resurfaces shortly after police depart. Local business owners say conditions have deteriorated as the number of sex workers has surged, doubling in recent months, while theft and threats from shoplifters have escalated.
“It’s getting worse,” supermarket manager Jesus Diaz said. He recounted how shoplifters once begged for forgiveness but are now more brazen and confrontational.
Since 2022, over 200,000 migrants have arrived in New York City, with about 65,000 still being housed in city-funded shelters and tent facilities. The surge has led to growing concerns about public safety and the proliferation of illegal activities in areas like Jackson Heights, where stolen goods and drugs are sold openly, just steps from retailers trying to protect their livelihoods.
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