Police in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday said that they had executed urgent arrest warrants on two individuals for prostitution brokerage and two others for illegal drug possession, all tied to illicit operations at a restaurant in District 1 that reportedly generates monthly profits of VND10 billion (US$403,350).

The arrest of T.T.T.L., 40, living in District 1, D.T.G., 28, living in District 10, P.T.C.V., 28, living in Binh Tan District, and T.T.N., 25, hailing from Hau Giang Province, resulted from a raid at Crystal Restaurant on Bui Thi Xuan Street in Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1.

During the inspection, officers found that the restaurant had 50-100 hostesses catering primarily to foreign visitors. 

Operating from 11:00 am to 4:00 am the next day, the establishment gained a significant portion of its revenue by offering stripteases to guests.  

Its staff are also accused of facilitating drug use among customers and engaging in prostitution. 

Its male employees catered to female patrons, also offering stripteases and sexual services. 

If customers desired, staff would escort them to prearranged hotels for sex.

According to police, the operation brought in unlawful profits of VND300-500 million ($12,100-20,167) per day, totaling approximately VND10 billion a month.

Previously, police officers caught T.T.H.N., 31, and N.H.V., 30, red-handed selling sex to two 36-year-old South Koreans at L’Odéon Hotel on Le Van Thiem Street in District 7.

They also discovered P.T.C.V. and T.T.N. selling sex to two 31-year-old and 40 year-old South Koreans at Cozi 5 Hotel on Hung Gia 2 Street in the same district.

In addition, police uncovered that T.T.N. intended to dispose of a package containing a white powder believed to be methamphetamine, but the officers promptly intercepted that attempt.

At the police station, T.T.H.N., N.H.V., P.T.C.V., and T.T.N. confessed to working as hostesses at Crystal Restaurant, primarily catering to South Korean and Chinese clientele. 

They admitted to engaging in prostitution, charging between VND5 million ($201) per encounter and VND8 million ($323) for overnight services.

On March 20, T.T.T.L. and D.T.G., managers at the restaurant, instructed these four employees to serve beer and entertain customers. 

Additionally, they arranged for the four hostesses to engage in sexual activities with four South Korean patrons.

For each transaction, where a hostess sells sexual services for VND5 million, the manager receives VND500,000 ($20), while an overnight encounter for VND8 million earns the manager VND1 million ($40).

Furthermore, aside from the earnings from the hostesses, L. and G. also receive a commission of 10-15 percent of the total bill.

Regarding the package of drugs that T.T.N. intended to dispose of, N. claimed to have asked P.T.C.V. to buy it for her own use.

The police are continuing their investigation into the case.

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