Dublin police arrest 2 on suspicion of pimping, pandering

DUBLIN, Calif. (KGO) -- Police arrested two people Friday afternoon in Dublin on suspicion of pimping and pandering.

Officers arrested 45-year-old Curtis Ng and 49-year-old Shelly Yu when officers served search warrants at 2 p.m. at six Bay Area locations including Dublin, San Leandro, Hayward, San Mateo and Oakland.

Police allege that Ng and Yu were operating a brothel in Dublin and an investigation led to the discovering of additional locations in the Bay Area, according to police.

The Dublin location is a new luxury apartment building across the street from the Dublin BART station. The sex trafficking business operated out of an apartment.

Police say the apartments were stashed with condoms and suitcases filled with lingerie. The bedrooms had mattresses on the floor and incense.

Dublin police followed up on a tip about prostitution back in August. Undercover officers and the FBI investigated. On Friday morning they stormed into six locations around the Bay Area with search warrants.

Five young women, most of them from China, were rescued and taken to a women's shelter.

Two clients, both middle-aged men, who were visiting the brothels during the raids, were also arrested.

"It's very different than a massage parlor operation. This was very sophisticated as far as the operation and arranging different locations," explained Lt. Nate Schmidt with the Dublin Police Department.

The five women were taken to a Bay Area Women Against Rape Center where they will get help, police said.

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office, FBI and other agencies assisted Dublin police in the investigation. The investigation into this sex trafficking ring could lead to more arrests and more victims.

"You think you're safe. It's a secure building. It's upsetting. How did they get in and out of the building?" said Tammy Young, who lives in the building.

Bay City News contributed to this report.