Police in Taipei, Taiwan, have arrested 18 foreign female tourists during a hotel raid targeting an illegal sex work operation on September 17.
The group of detainees included 17 women from Thailand and one woman from Vietnam, all of whom had originally entered the territory on tourist visas. Ten of the women had overstayed their legal entry documents and were residing in Taiwan illegally.
Law enforcement officers also detained two male clients and the owner of the establishment during the raid, according to a report by news publication The Thaiger.
Details of the Hotel Operation
Police established that the operation was managed by a 53-year-old Taiwanese resident who ran his business in the narrow alleyways branching off Xichang Street in Taipei.
The women invited passing visitors and vacationers to walk with them to a nearby hotel, where they provided adult services in private rooms.
The establishment positioned itself as a low-cost service, charging customers 1,500 Taiwan dollars, or approximately 4,000 Russian rubles, for each session. From that fee, the women were permitted to keep 800 Taiwan dollars, equivalent to around 2,100 Russian rubles, while the manager collected the remaining balance.
Visa Rules and Regional Tourism
Xichang Street is located in Taipei, the capital and main financial hub of Taiwan. Taiwan and its capital attract millions of international travelers each year, particularly from nearby Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.
Standard tourist visas allow foreign travelers short-term entry for sightseeing and recreation, but statutory regulations strictly prohibit visa holders from undertaking paid employment or commercial activities. Overstaying a visa constitutes a violation of immigration laws, which subjects offenders to formal police detention and deportation.
The New Taiwan dollar is the official currency of the island territory. The sum of 1,500 Taiwan dollars represents a budget price point within the local informal adult services sector.
Ongoing Police Investigation
Law enforcement authorities reported that the criminal investigation into the case remains ongoing as officers process the detainees and examine the operation's business records.
The case comes alongside other recent law enforcement actions involving foreign performers in the region. Earlier, a Russian stripper named Alexei Mironov was jailed in an Asian country. Mironov had previously achieved public fame in Russia after participating in an episode of the show Vopros Rebrom, hosted by rapper Basta, whose real name is Vasily Vakulenko, on the VK Video platform.
