"Thai Massage" Parlours Offer Sex
Helsinki's "Thai massage" parlours are without exception covers for brothels, reports the Helsingin Sanomat.
The paper tested this widely-known practice by sending people to 30 Thai massage parlours in the city. All of them offered sexual services in addition to a more traditional rub-down.
Police told the paper that they were aware of the activity, but that there was no evidence of illegal activity. Prostitution itself is not illegal, however, procurement in public is not allowed, nor is pimping. Police say gaining evidence that the masseuses were under the thumb of madams or pimps is very difficult.
Thai massage parlours began to appear in Helsinki in the early 1990's. There are now dozens of them in the city, and the phenomena has spread around the country.
Helsingin Sanomat, YLE