

A prostitution ring in Xuzhou, Jiangsu province was recently taken down after local police received tip-offs from residents.

According to China News, the prostitution ring solicited potential customers via text message or through popular messaging apps like WeChat, QQ and MoMo. The messages typically involved a woman offering to exchange her virginity for money in order pay medical fees for her sick mom.





The sponge used to absorb eel blood.



One police officer undercover managed to get in contact with a prostitute surnamed Liu on WeChat, and she was arrested when they met for their “appointment”.

Liu, who was born in the 1990s, told police that she was introduced to the ring by a friend from her hometown of Chongqing. According to Liu, at least 10 others from Chongqing were involved in the operation.





The message reads: “My family is facing some difficulties as my mom has cervical carcinoma and my family can’t afford her operation. I decided to sell my virginity to pay for my mom’s medical fees. Big brother, can you help me?”



Police also arrested the ringleader, surnamed Zhang, as well as a dozens of others involved.

A police officer named Hao Pengfei told reporters that the ring had operated in various cities throughout China, including Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Hangzhou, Lianyungan and Shanghai.

“This ring is well-organized and everyone has their own specific responsibility. When they reached a new location, the ringleader would purchase personal information illegally. After that, two other suspects, Rang and Zhang, sent the messages via [temporary] phone numbers. Suspect Chen then sent the prostitutes to the designated location [where customers agreed to meet],” said Hao. “Suspects Sun, Liu and Li usually faked their virginity using eel blood soaked in a sponge. Prices of the women’s service ranged from 2,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan. So far, the ring has gained a profit of a few hundred thousand yuan.”

Xinhua news reported that a total of eight suspects are now under criminal detention while another dozen have been held under administrative punishment. Further investigation of the case is ongoing.

Back in 2012, a prostitution ring in Jiangsu’s Changzhou city was busted after police found that minors were forced to sell sex and fake their virginity with eel blood. Several clinics in Taiwan were also reported to sell “blood balls” to prostitutes to help disguise them as virgins.

By Lucy Liu

[Images via Sinoca.com]