Police have raided an alleged illegal escort agency on the Gold Coast and charged 25 people with prostitution offences, but several of the women say they were "misled" into breaking the law.

Key points: Prostitution is legal in Queensland in licensed brothels and for sole operators

Prostitution is legal in Queensland in licensed brothels and for sole operators The Gold Coast escort agency was allegedly posing as a legitimate business

The Gold Coast escort agency was allegedly posing as a legitimate business Police called the raid a success with senior figures charged



The State Crime Command began investigating the Coomera business in March.

Police said the agency had posed as a legitimate operation, with officers uncovering documents including employment contracts and worksheets.

Officers raided the home of the alleged business owner, Shawn Moy, 47, and charged him with offences including knowingly carrying on the business of providing unlawful prostitution.

He was released on bail after appearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today and is due to appear in court again next month.

Shawn Moy, 47, is charged with running an illegal escort service. ( Facebook )

Another 24 people, including alleged employees and clients, also faced court.

Sharon*, 27, who spoke to the ABC on the condition of anonymity, was one of several women charged with prostitution and possessing tainted property.

She said she was arrested by an undercover police officer posing as a client.

"We went upstairs — he was acting nervous, he was like 'this is my first time doing this'," she said.

"He gave me the $400 and he went to close the balcony. Next thing I know, two police officers walk out.

"I broke down, I ended up having a panic attack … I thought I was going to go straight to the watch house, straight to jail because of my [criminal] history."

Sharon said she had only been working for the agency for three weeks and had been repeatedly assured the business was legal.

Outcalls are only legal in Queensland when sex workers are sole operators. ( Reuters (file image) )

"I took his word for it — I'm asking numerous times 'is this legal?' — I told him I was on probation," she said.

"I didn't want to do anything illegal to get me shoved back in jail."

'I was fully misled'

In Queensland sex work is only legal in a licensed brothel or as a sole operator.

During their investigation, police found mobile phones with contact numbers used to advertise prostitution services, a computer with software for booking appointments and two vehicles used for transportation.

Shayla*, 23, said she had worked for the business since January and also did not realise she was breaking the law.

"[Police] came to my house and raided my house, looking for money or any documents … took my phone and stuff like that for evidence," Shayla said.

"I was fully misled by the whole thing.

"[The escort agency] always had reasoning for why it was legal … the way everyone had their own driver and the way everyone had their own phone."

Senior Sergeant Kevin Groenhuijzen from State Crime Command said the investigation was a success because senior figures had been charged.

"Dismantling this operation was significant and sends a clear message of our commitment to targeting these offenders," he said.

However, a spokesperson for Respect Inc — the statewide sex worker organisation in Queensland — said putting police resources into raiding and busting sex workers and industry operators was a "complete waste", with sex workers being the "collateral damage".

"It is our position that sex work in Queensland should be fully decriminalised to allow a range of models of sex industry businesses to operate within the law," the spokesperson said in a statement.

It said escort agencies were legal "just across the border in New South Wales", with that state decriminalising sex work decades ago and allowing sex industry businesses to be regulated, just like any other industry.

"Respect Inc challenges the idea that raids of escort agencies is of any practical benefit to the Gold Coast community, or Queensland at large," the spokesperson said.

"Raids and arrests put sex worker safety, anonymity, and confidentiality at risk.

"For the sex workers involved, their lives are in turmoil. Is this what the community in Queensland really want police and courts to be doing?"

*Not her real name