Hoboken Police Bust Undercover Escort Operation

Hoboken Police uncovered an escort ring and arrested two women at 324 Monroe St. on Friday around 6 p.m. and charged them with engaging in prostitution, as well as operating a sexually oriented business within 1,000 feet of a school, according to police reports. 

"HPD anti-vice detectives engaged in an undercover sting operation that resulted in arrests of the individuals running the escort ring, as well as closing down their illegal operation," said Lt. Mark Competello in an e-mail statement. "This was a sophisticated and well planned operation that used technology, including a website to advertise their services covertly."  

The arrests are a result of an anonymous tip, police said.

According to police, the prostitution ring was operated as if it were a legitimate massage parlor at 324 Monroe St. The women who were arrested, Elena Gubskaya, 49, from Fort Lee and Zhanna Surykava, 34, from Brooklyn,  "brazenly engaged in this criminal enterprise in the midst of a residential area, in addition to operating within 1000' of an Elementary School," police said. 

According to the police report, customers enter the establishment and go to a private room where they put $200 on the massage table. The masseuse then walks in, police said, and the $200 cover all "sexual activities."

On Friday, one police officer scheduled an appointment, according to the report, as part of the undercover sting operation. As the cop was questioning Surykava about prices, the police report stated, she asked him if he were a police officer. 

According to the report, the police officer than answered "I am a Hoboken police officer and you are under arrest." After arresting the women, police also took the phone and the laptop that were located by the front desk, according to the report.

Police also confiscated $242 as proceeds from illegal prostitution from the premises, police said.