Goa's police force is drawing up a list of registered spas, massage parlours and therapy centres in the state as it looks to identify illegal operations in the wellness sector.

Spas and massage parlours in the region have received a bad reputation for allegedly facilitating prostitution and trafficking of women in India, according to the police.

Goa police held a meeting with the health department, Goa state pollution control board and Goa salon and spa association (GSSA) to discuss the illegal operation of spas in the state.

There are 80 spas, massage parlours and therapy centres registered in Goa, most of which operate along the coastal belt. The authorities believe, however, that there are more than 200 illegal spas operating in the state, according to The Times of India.

To be considered a genuine wellness-related business, a spa must be at least 150sq m(1,615sq ft), but state police have observed illegal spas conducting business in rooms as small as 30sq m (323sq ft).

Goa police has instigated a drive against several massage parlours allegedly trafficking women disguised as therapists in recent months. For example, more than 20 raids were conducted in Panaji, Candolim, Calangute and other locations where police rescued more than 30 girls including foreign nationals.

In July 2014, the GSSA submitted a white paper to the Goa state government of India to ensure that legitimate salon and spa owners don’t face closure simply because of the poor reputation the region’s wellness industry is receiving due to the increase in illegal activities being carried out in supposed “spas”.