FBI urged to probe NYC's seedy 'Market of Sweethearts'
'We request that you initiate an investigation into what we understand are gangs engaging in criminal enterprises including human trafficking, illegal narcotics sales and the mass distribution of fraudulent documents which poses a national security threat,' wrote Rosa Sanchez, head of the Restore Roosevelt Avenue Coalition, and Democratic district leader Hiram Monserrate in an Aug. 14 letter to FBI Director Kash Patel.
Federal intervention is required because state and local laws are limited and inadequate to address the problem, the activists said.
Advertisement
5 A suspected sex worker seen outside of a brothel on Roosevelt Avenue near 89th Street in Queens on Aug. 17, 2025.
NY Post
5 Local activists are calling on the FBI to investigate 'foreign national' crime syndicates operating on Roosevelt Avenue.
NY Post
In their missive, Sanchez and Monserrate thanked the FBI and other agencies in the Trump administration for prosecuting members of migrant gangs — including the Venezuelan-based Tren de Aragua and the 18th Street gang, which regularly extort brothels, beat rivals and sell drugs and phony IDs to finance an illicit network based in El Salvador.
Advertisement
'However, both gangs continue to operate in our community and we impress upon you that more needs to be done to keep our community safe,' they told the FBI director.
They noted that the NYPD has made more than 500 prostitution-related arrests thus far this year along what is called 'The Market of Sweethearts,' but brothels continue to operate.
5 Suspected sex workers on the sidewalk in the 'Market of Sweethearts' on July 27, 2025.
New York Post
Many of them are controlled by Chinese gangs, Sanchez and Monserrate said.
Advertisement
'According to our sources several locations are being operated and controlled by Chinese organized crime. … The information we have continued gathering is unsettling,' the Corona-Elmhurst neighborhood leaders said.
Monserrate said the Triads are one of the Chinese groups involved in sex-trafficking.
5 Illegal street vendors seen on Roosevelt Avenue near 89th Street in Jackson Heights on Aug. 17, 2025.
Gregory P. Mango
5 Vendors set up on the sidewalk in Jackson Heights near the 'Market of Sweethearts' on Aug. 17, 2025.
Gregory P. Mango
Advertisement
The 18th Street Gang members are still selling fraudulent green cards, Social Security and driver's licenses on Roosevelt Avenue between 80th and 84th Streets, too, the letter writers said.
'Organized crime by both Latino and Chinese foreign nationals continues to wreak havoc in our community,' Sanchez and Monserrate said. 'We urge your agency to respond and rid our community of modern slavery and a dangerous criminal element that operates flagrantly.'
They forwarded suspected addresses of brothels to the FBI.
In the past year, The Post has exposed the seediness, crime, drug-peddling and illegal vending along the Roosevelt Avenue corridor. Gov. Kathy Hochul last year even dispatched state troopers to assist the NYPD to crack down the lawlessness.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
17 minutes ago
- USA Today
Force Design 2028 will expand Coast Guard's national security capabilities
Early on May 23, U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders at the Joint Harbor Operations Center in San Diego tracked a vessel crossing into U.S. waters off Southern California. A Maritime Safety and Security Team in the area intercepted the vessel. Assisted by USCGC Halibut, the Seattle-based small boat team detained 10 foreign nationals without authorization to enter the U.S. and transferred them to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Halfway across the country, USCGC Joseph Doyle had intercepted a boat with four Mexican men illegally fishing off Texas inside the U.S. exclusive economic zone. The catch included about 200 red snappers. The crew transferred the men to CBP on return to Coast Guard Station South Padre Island. The two operations marked the start of a busy summer season for the Coast Guard, which is tasked with safeguarding the nation's borders, facilitating commerce and supporting maritime safety. Since Jan. 21, its national security role has taken on greater focus as the Trump administration beefed up military forces along the U.S. land and maritime borders to thwart illicit and illegal activities and stop inflows of dangerous drugs and unauthorized people. In the first three-plus months of the new administration, Coast Guard personnel detained more than 860 aliens and stopped as much illicit cocaine as was interdicted at sea during fiscal 2024, Adm. Kevin E. Lunday told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security on May 14. 'We surged forces, tripling the number of forward-deployed air and surface assets in that area.' Off Southern California, for example, migrant interdiction increased 54 percent between late January and early May, and 'this year, we are on track to exceed our bulk cocaine interdiction goal,' says Lt. Cmdr. Steve Roth, chief of media relations for the Coast Guard. 'This operational surge is a great example of what the Coast Guard is capable of doing, meeting the need — but it's a surge. It''s not sustainable,' Roth says. 'The Coast Guard has been an incredible bang for the buck for the taxpayer. Look at what you''re getting out of them. We''ve got to give them the attention that they need and get them whole after decades of under-funding.' The 55,000-member force has long grappled with the need to modernizing its fleet, force and infrastructure. Top officials hope that changes under Force Design 2028, the plan developed by the Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to bolster national security and commit resources to both capabilities and facilities. Four lines of effort Force Design 2028 was developed to strengthen, expand, reshape and modernize the Coast Guard, with focus on four key areas: people, organization, acquisition and contracting and technology. The Coast Guard 'is more in demand than ever before. We are on the edge of transformational change, and we will become a stronger, more capable and agile force to meet the challenges ahead,' Lunday said at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduation May 21 in New London, Connecticut. The Force Design executive report outlines numerous changes across its headquarters and the force. The Coast Guard plans to improve training systems, expand medical care access and modernize reserve and civilian management systems. It revamps organizational structures and decision-making processes. It aims to eliminate or minimize bureaucratic acquisition and contracting delays to get forces what they need faster. It wants to accelerate getting state-of-the-market technology that enhances data sharing, situational awareness and operational effectiveness. The campaign underscores the need for action, Roth says. 'The report makes an alarming assessment of the service's current state, describing it as facing a readiness crisis that is fragile … and on a path to failure, stemming from decades of under-investment, neglect and strategic drift,' he says. 'The report highlights a significant workforce shortage and aging assets on the verge of collapse, warning that, without change, the Coast Guard will fail. It proposes a bold and urgent transformation blueprint aimed at fundamentally changing the service from a reactive posture to a proactive strategy relying on innovation.' DHS Secretary Kristi Noem affirmed those commitments in remarks to the Academy's Class of 2025, adding: 'We're going to build a more agile, capable and responsive fighting force. A new chapter for America's Coast Guard, one like we have never seen before, starts right now,' Noem said. The secretary in recent months met with Coast Guard leaders and crews in visits to several Coast Guard stations, cutters and maritime security units. 'The Coast Guard's vital role in our safety and security is paramount,' she said, highlighting investments that include more icebreakers to address needs in the Arctic and adding 15,000 new personnel by 2028. Many of this year's 200 academy graduates, now commissioned as Coast Guard officers, will serve and lead missions around the globe as the service expands and modernizes. Service and Hill advocacy At Congressional hearings, Coast Guard leaders have detailed the service's needs that will be supported by Force Design 2028. 'We maintain a persistent presence in the maritime domain — from coastal ports and inland waters to the high seas —– to control, secure and defend the U.S. border and maritime approaches from maritime threats; facilitate the flow of safe and secure commerce; respond to maritime disasters; and save lives,' Lunday testified in May. The campaign has several goals, Roth says. These include delivering an execution plan; commencing a Force Posture and Operational Concepts Campaign focused on reinventing ways the Coast Guard employs forces and delivers results; and delivering the first semiannual update to the DHS secretary on FD2028's implementation. Unclear yet are the costs to modernize, change and expand the Coast Guard, as much of its funding is part of broader DHS budgets. But flat budgets have long plagued the service, leading to underfunded requirements, aging infrastructure, maintenance backlogs and lags in modernization, despite bipartisan efforts last year. Complicating the service's budget and authorization is that Coast Guard jurisdiction falls to multiple congressional committees and subcommittees. Force Design also proposes a Senate-confirmed service secretary for the Coast Guard. Establishing a new secretary would provide a senior political appointee who 'can advocate for us in a way that a member of the uniformed armed services could not politically,' Roth says.
Newsweek
18 minutes ago
- Newsweek
China To Reveal New Weapons To Sink US Ships
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China is expected to officially reveal four new missiles designed to sink enemy warships during an upcoming military parade, as part of its efforts to challenge United States naval dominance. Newsweek has contacted the Pentagon and China's Foreign Ministry for comment via email. Why It Matters The military parade is scheduled for September 3 in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of what China calls the "victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War," its term for World War II. China, undergoing a rapid military buildup and modernization, has built a large long-range missile arsenal capable of targeting U.S. forces and bases across the Western Pacific region. Missiles are central to China's anti-access and area denial strategy, which seeks to prevent or restrict an enemy from entering and operating in a given area, serving as a countermeasure against possible U.S. intervention in a potential conflict over Taiwan or the South China Sea. What To Know The second "comprehensive rehearsal" for the upcoming Chinese military parade—expected to reveal new weapons—was held from Saturday evening to early Sunday morning local time, the state-run Xinhua News Agency reported, and involved about 40,000 participants. Photos circulated on social media show new missiles marked YJ-15, YJ-17, YJ-19, and YJ-20 being carried by vehicles during the rehearsal. "YJ" is the abbreviation of Ying Ji, meaning "Eagle Strike" in Chinese, and is used for a range of Chinese anti-ship missiles, which can be launched from ships or aircraft. Various new missiles (ship UVLS launch?) confirmed, my 2c on roles: - YJ-15, ramjet compact supersonic? - YJ-17, waverider hypersonic glide? - YJ-19, ?maybe scramjet hypersonic? - YJ-20, biconical hypersonic/aeroballistic? Possibly seen before from 055.. Via REautomaton, SDF — Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) August 17, 2025 Rick Joe, a longtime observer of Chinese military developments, suggested that the YJ-15 could be a supersonic missile, flying faster than the speed of sound—768 miles per hour. The YJ-17 and YJ-19 could be hypersonic missiles, capable of flying over five times the speed of sound and maneuvering in flight, making them difficult to intercept. Joe suggested the YJ-20 could be a highly maneuverable aeroballistic missile. According to the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, this type of hypersonic missile can be launched from different platforms and combines aerodynamic maneuvers with ballistic loft phases to extend its range. In addition to their supposed ship-sinking role, these missiles could plausibly serve a dual role in both anti-ship and land-attack strikes, Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck noted. Threats To US Navy The reveal of the new Chinese anti-ship missiles will come after the U.S. used a significant portion of its missile interceptors defending Israel against Iran's missile attacks in June, as well as during earlier Red Sea operations against Yemen's Houthi attacks on vessels. "American operations in the Red Sea and elsewhere have shown good intercept capability against threats presented," Luck told Newsweek. "However, the Chinese capabilities may be both more sophisticated and draw on deeper stockpiles [of U.S. missile interceptors]." Chinese military vehicles carry YJ anti-ship cruise missiles during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on September 3, 2015. Chinese military vehicles carry YJ anti-ship cruise missiles during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing on September 3, 2015. Ng Han Guan/AP Photo According to Luck, China already operates a wide range of anti-ship missiles, deployed on smaller vessels like missile boats, corvettes, and frigates, as well as larger, newer destroyers. It therefore makes sense to develop successor designs to replace various legacy weapons. Meanwhile, developing different types of missiles can enhance China's threat posture against enemy warships by overwhelming and complicating their anti-missile defenses, allowing what he described as "leakers" to get through and hit their targets, such as aircraft carriers. A Chinese military observer, who requested anonymity because of the topic's sensitivity, told Newsweek that the new missiles reflect China's view of U.S. defense capabilities, suggesting it has moved away from relying on low-observable technology for penetration. Low-observable technology, also known as stealth, is used to make missiles harder to detect. The observer said the U.S. Navy has equipped its warships with advanced air defense sensors capable of detecting slow-flying, low-observable missiles, enabling interceptions. In comparison, supersonic and hypersonic missiles are preferred by China for penetrating American ship-based defense systems, as they are difficult to intercept even if detected. The United States Navy destroyer USS Bulkeley launches a Standard Missile-3 interceptor to intercept a ballistic missile target in the North Atlantic Ocean on May 20, 2025. The United States Navy destroyer USS Bulkeley launches a Standard Missile-3 interceptor to intercept a ballistic missile target in the North Atlantic Ocean on May 20, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Nye/U.S. Navy What People Are Saying Australia-based naval analyst Alex Luck told Newsweek: "The [Chinese] missile threat is comprehensive and long-established. The [U.S. Navy] takes this threat very seriously, and is in the process of addressing it through a variety of means, both in terms of missile defense, but also intercepting or neutralizing carrier platforms and launchers by offensive means." Tom Shugart, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, told Newsweek: "While we know very little about what in this case looks like a new series of air-launched air-to-surface missiles, it could be that China is developing this suite of air-to-surface missiles at least in part to go with its growing fleet of aircraft carriers." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether Chinese authorities will reveal details of the new anti-ship missiles during the military parade, including payload, speed, range and launch platforms.
Washington Post
21 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Pakistani university lecturer arrested for planning foiled Balochistan attack, officials say
QUETTA, Pakistan — Security forces in southwestern Pakistan arrested a university lecturer accused of planning a foiled suicide attack that would have targeted last week's Independence Day celebrations in insurgency-hit Balochistan province , officials said Monday. The suspect, Usman Qazi is claimed to have links with the outlawed Majeed Brigade, the suicide squad of the Balochistan Liberation Army, according to the province's Chief Minister, Sarfraz Bugti. During a press conference in the city of Quetta, Bugti showed video footage with Qazi admitting to planning the thwarted attack as well as aiding militants in recent years. It was unclear whether Qazi made those remarks under duress. Bugti did not clarify when the arrest was made, and only said the man was still being questioned. The arrest comes a week after the U.S. State Department designated BLA and the Majeed Brigade a foreign terrorist organization. The group is already banned at home. Bugti said it was the first time security forces acting on intelligence had captured a senior member of the Majeed Brigade. He said Qazi confessed to involvement in past attacks, including last year's railway station bombing in Quetta that killed 32 people. There was no immediate comment from the BLA about the arrest. Balochistan has long seen violence blamed on separatist groups , including the BLA. The province is rich in natural resources and home to projects tied to the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, where Chinese nationals and Pakistani security forces have also been targeted by insurgents. The separatists demand independence from Pakistan's central government in Islamabad. Though the government said it had quelled the insurgency, violence persists there.
