16 Mar 2009

Samoan man arrested in Honolulu for operating a prostitution ring

11:52 am on 16 March 2009

A Samoan man has been arrested in Honolulu for operating a prostitution ring.

Authorities arrested Joseph Faauga Vaimili, who is 27, as part of an investigation into human trafficking at Waikiki massage parlors.

A 24-year-old woman said she was coerced into working in the sex trade and later threatened with a gun to continue.

The woman, who is originally from the US mainland, is now at a temporary shelter.

FBI Special Agent, Brandon Simpson, says, Human trafficking is a big problem in Hawaii and in the outlying territories the Honolulu FBI covers such as Guam, CNMI and American Samoa.

Mr Vaimili was arrested on charges of terroristic threatening, promotion of prostitution and two counts of kidnapping.

The Hawaii Coalition against Human Trafficking, which investigated the case, is comprised of officers with the Honolulu Police Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Department of Public Safety.