Two people suspected of operating an illegal massage parlor in Bowling Green were arrested Tuesday on charges of promoting human trafficking.

Mei Dianyong, 60, of Chicago, and Xu Zhang, 37, of Orland Park, Illinois, were arrested by the Bowling Green Police Department following an investigation into Star Spa, 866 Lain Ave.

According to city police, two women were found working at the establishment under suspicious conditions.

The women reportedly told police they were brought here from Chicago, but could not identify what city or state they were in currently, police said.

“One of the females advised she was only making approximately $5 a day and the other female advised she would only be making tips off of the massages and had not been paid at all,” BGPD Officer Josh Yoebstl wrote in an arrest citation, adding that the women reported the “boss” had been by the business recently to pick up about $5,000.

Police made contact with Zhang on Tuesday, who reported that she owned the building and was aware that a massage parlor was operating within, but that she did not run the business, a citation said.

Police learned that the city code enforcement office condemned the building last year for multiple code violations, but Zhang had spent more than $20,000 to bring the property up to code, an arrest citation said.

In response to the findings Tuesday by detectives, code enforcement officials were called to the address, conducted an inspection and ordered an immediate closure of the business due to multiple violations, BGPD said.

The two women who reportedly worked there were removed from the premises and provided with assistance, police said.

“Zhang and her uncle, Mei Dianyong, commute to Star Spa regularly to pick up money,” an arrest citation said. “Zhang and Mei Diangyong are benefiting financially from the illegal business. Furthermore, Zhang confirmed she recruits the employees that work in her building. We believe Zhang and Mei Dianyong own multiple illegal massage parlors in numerous different states.”

Star Spa was located at the same address as Comfort Spa, which was the subject of a police investigation last year that resulted in the arrests of multiple people for prostitution-related offenses and for practicing massage therapy without a license.

Dianyong and Zhang were booked Tuesday into Warren County Regional Jail and released after posting $25,000 cash bonds.

They are scheduled to appear Oct. 14 in Warren District Court for arraignment.

Under state law, promoting human trafficking is a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.