Authorities in Linz have carried out a coordinated operation against illegal prostitution, closing four unlicensed brothels and making two arrests.
The large-scale raid, conducted jointly by the police and the city’s magistrate, marks a major step in the fight against unlawful sex work in Upper Austria’s capital.
Four Locations Targeted Simultaneously
After months of investigation, the city’s enforcement department gathered enough evidence to identify four separate properties where sex work was being offered without a license. On July 17, police units moved in on all four addresses at the same time.
According to officials, the raids were successful: several people were charged with pimping and cross-border prostitution offenses, while two individuals who were residing in Austria illegally were taken into custody.
During the operation, officers also seized around three grams of cocaine and a Chinese passport containing a falsified visa sticker. The woman in possession of the passport was charged with document forgery and drug possession.
Authorities collected a total of 1,200 euros in security deposits under Upper Austria’s Sexual Services Act. These payments are required by law when illegal commercial sex activities are uncovered.
The investigation does not end in Linz. Police believe the operation may have been part of a larger criminal network extending to Vienna.
According to reports, the suspected ringleader is located in the capital. For this reason, the Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office has now taken over the case.
Coordinated Action Against Illegal Prostitution
City officials praised the cooperation between the police and local authorities. The joint effort was described as an important move to protect legal sex workers and ensure compliance with Austria’s strict prostitution regulations.
Legal prostitution in Austria is permitted only under certain conditions: sex workers must register officially, undergo regular health checks, and operate in licensed establishments. Those who ignore these rules risk fines or arrest.
Regulation in Austria
Austria is one of the few European countries where prostitution is legal but highly regulated.
Brothels must meet hygiene and safety standards, and sex workers are required to pay taxes and carry valid health documentation.
Illegal operations, on the other hand, often avoid these responsibilities and are sometimes linked to human trafficking or exploitation. The Linz investigation appears to have targeted exactly this type of unlicensed business.
Police say the case remains open, and further arrests are possible as evidence is reviewed and additional connections to Vienna are explored.
Officials emphasized that the crackdown is part of a broader effort to maintain transparency and safety in Austria’s sex industry — and to protect both workers and clients from the risks of unregulated operations.
Read more about the legal framework of sex work in Austria in this article.