Quito shuts down 32 illegal brothels, rescuing minors and an elder on oxygen

The Metropolitan Control Agency (AMC) of Quito, together with the National Police, conducted coordinated raids in the neighborhoods of Iñaquito, La Floresta and Conocoto, ordering the closure of 32 establishments that operated as illegal houses of prostitution. Investigations triggered by citizen complaints uncovered severe sanitary violations, the presence of minors and individuals apparently detained against their will, and a macabre scene in which an elderly man was found bedridden on a permanent oxygen supply.

Authorities reported that the venues offered sexual services for prices between $10 and $50 and advertised through social‑media platforms. The operators lacked the required Licencia Única de Actividades Económicas (LUAE) and now face fines of up to 15 basic unified salaries—estimated at more than $7,000 per establishment—plus possible criminal investigations.

The crackdown is part of a broader effort by Quito’s municipal authorities to combat clandestine prostitution and protect public health and safety.