Police in Tyrol have uncovered two massage studios in Innsbruck that were allegedly being operated as illegal brothels. Three women are suspected of running the businesses, while twelve sex workers are believed to have had a significant part of their earnings taken from them.
The Tyrolean State Criminal Police Office had been investigating the case since January 2026. One of the massage studios has already been officially closed by the authorities.
Three Women Suspected of Running Illegal Brothels
Investigators believe two Bulgarian women, aged 42 and 48, operated one of the establishments. A 75-year-old Austrian woman is suspected of running the second location.
According to investigators, the two Bulgarian suspects allegedly recruited women from abroad and brought them to Innsbruck to work in prostitution. Two men, aged 80 and 65, are suspected of helping them with the operation.
Twelve Women Worked at the Two Studios
Police identified twelve women between the ages of 25 and 55 who had been working at the two massage studios. The women came from several regions of the world, including Africa, South America and Europe.
Authorities allege that a substantial portion of the money the women earned through prostitution was taken from them. This aspect of the case has led investigators to examine whether some of the women were victims of pimping and financial exploitation.
Sex Workers Also Reported for Illegal Prostitution
The twelve women were reported for engaging in illegal prostitution because the establishments were not legally authorized for prostitution. At the same time, some of them were questioned by police as possible victims of pimping.
This means the investigation distinguishes between the women’s own alleged violations of prostitution regulations and the possibility that they were being financially exploited by the people operating the establishments.
Investigation Into Suspected Pimping Continues
Authorities are investigating the three women suspected of running the studios as well as the two men who allegedly assisted them. The investigation centers on suspected pimping and the way the sex workers’ earnings were handled.
The case also highlights the legal risks of prostitution taking place inside businesses that officially operate as something else. In this case, establishments presented as massage studios allegedly functioned as unlicensed brothels, resulting in action against both the suspected operators and the sex workers found there.
One Massage Studio Already Closed
One of the two establishments has already been officially shut down following the investigation. Authorities have not indicated that the broader investigation is finished, however, as police continue examining the roles of the suspected operators and their alleged helpers.
The operation represents a significant enforcement action against illegal prostitution in Innsbruck, involving multiple suspects, twelve sex workers and two businesses allegedly operating outside Tyrol’s legal framework for prostitution.