Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office busts two businesses for alleged prostitution

Two Brunswick County establishments were busted late Thursday afternoon for prostitution and drug related charges.

Months of undercover work ended with two raids and a series of arrests. Playmates is classified as a gentlemen’s club and Sun Spa as a massage parlor, but the sheriff says a lot more was going on behind closed doors.

“Prostitution, crimes against nature; we have these women who are working here, using drugs at times selling drugs,” Brunswick County Sheriff, John Ingram said.

A SWAT team and vice narcotics detectives from the Sheriff’s Office first hit Sun Spa in Longwood where two women were arrested for alleged prostitution. Then to Playmates on Highway 17 where detectives arrested three women who will face prostitution and drug related charges.

“We have individuals not only from our immediate area but from out of the county coming to this location as well as the other locations, engaging in this activity. We are certainly glad to put an end to this operation,” Sheriff Ingram said.

But this isn’t the first time both operations have been in trouble with the law. In June, detectives also raided Sun Spa arresting three women who later pleaded guilty to prostitution charges. Women from Playmates were also arrested in the same bust.

“We will be seeking an injunction to working closely with our county attorney’s office to permanently shut these places down,” Sheriff Ingram said. “We hope to have that in place next week.”

The names of those arrested and formal charges are expected to be released tomorrow. Brunswick County Sheriff, John Ingram, says he is investigating the extent to which the owners and operators of these businesses new about the illicit activity allegedly going on there.