A federal investigation into an East Coast sex trafficking ring resulted in the shutdown of five massage parlors in Stamford and Norwalk Tuesday.

Shop owners and residents near the Ginja Massage Parlor at 207 Atlantic St. in Stamford say they are glad the operation is out of business. Many say they knew something was wrong at the establishment, which was only marked by a number and had a bell.

Agents arrested 31 people in several states and freed more than 70 women who were allegedly trafficked from Korea to work as sex slaves. Investigators say the arrests capped a 15-month probe that started when a Korean couple who owned a chain of New York City brothels allegedly tried to bribe an undercover NYPD cop. The suspects face charges ranging from prostitution to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens. If convicted, they face up to 10 years behind bars.