Little Rock, Arkansas – Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin provided a detailed update Thursday on the state’s ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking, highlighting significant developments from a multi-month operation targeting illicit massage businesses.
Griffin said the initiative, known as Operation Obscured Vision, began on January 23 with coordinated raids across multiple cities, including Harrison, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Little Rock, Rogers, and Russellville. “The operation has to date served search warrants on 13 illicit massage businesses, resulting in seven arrests,” Griffin reported. Follow-up raids in Hot Springs occurred on May 22 and May 28, further intensifying the crackdown on these illegal operations.
While the raids have led to several arrests, Griffin noted that two arrest warrants remain outstanding. They are for 53-year-old Junfang Li and 53-year-old Yuanbo Xi, both Chinese nationals. “It is believed that both Li and Xi have fled the country,” Griffin said. Of the seven individuals already arrested through the operation, six are also Chinese nationals.
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The operation has also led to the identification of 23 human trafficking victims, with 22 of them accepting services offered by state authorities. Griffin emphasized the human toll of these illicit operations, noting that all identified victims are Chinese nationals. The Attorney General’s office has been working to ensure that these individuals receive appropriate support and resources following their rescue.
In addition to arrests and victim assistance, the raids have yielded significant financial seizures. Griffin said that law enforcement has confiscated more than $107,000 in cash, mostly in U.S. dollars. Other currency was also recovered from China, Turkey, Thailand, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, and Serbia, reflecting the international scope of these operations.
Griffin also addressed a July 28 raid in Hot Springs, which targeted two additional massage parlors. That action led to serving Arkansas warrants on a man residing in Oklahoma, demonstrating that the operation continues to follow leads beyond state lines.
“Operation Obscured Vision represents a sustained effort to disrupt criminal networks exploiting vulnerable individuals,” Griffin said. The Attorney General underscored that the office remains committed to pursuing traffickers and bringing them to justice while providing essential support to victims.
The ongoing investigations serve as a stark reminder of the persistent threat of human trafficking within Arkansas. Law enforcement officials involved in the operation are urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to help protect vulnerable communities and bring traffickers to justice.
