Police Raid San José Massage Parlours

A total of nine massage parlours were the focus of intervention by agents of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ), with the objective of breaking up an alleged network of pimps, "proxenetas" in Spanish.

In Costa Rica, massage parlours are akin to brothels, where men mostly (women and couples are also welcome) visit for a 30, 45 or 60 minute session that includes sex.

In Costa Rica prostitution is not a crime, but people who organize women (or men) for others for profit from sexual activities, known as "proxenetismo" in Spanish - translated into "procuring" in English - which is and punishable for up to eights years in prison.

The raids on Friday were in search of three individuals: two women by the last names Obando and Gutiérrez and a man idenditied as Guzmán.

Included in the raid were the "pensiones" Mason 1 and Mason 2, Erótica, Musas and Marruecos.

Officials say that in these places the women charges from ¢9.000 to ¢25.000 for sexual favours and the money is split with the operators or owners of the massage parlour.

In San José is it estimated that more than 100 massage parlours exist and operated daily, some up to seven days a week and open until midnight.

Most are located within the downtown core of San José, while others are away from the centre and some even into the suburbs like Pavas, San Pedro, Desamparados, Alajuelita and Tibás.

Although most operate under the "pension" a short term stay hotel - license, are well known and have been aroun for years, some even decades, others don't even bother with municipal licensing or sanitary permits, operating for as long as they before being shut down and the operators move to a new location and start all over again.