Authorities Arrest 350 In Human Sex Trafficking Crimes Operation In Phoenix Area  

As Arizona was in the national spotlight with the Super Bowl and the WM Phoenix Open, law enforcement, nonprofits and service providers partnered to make nearly 350 human trafficking and sex arrests.

Officials and officers from nearly 25 law enforcement agencies and organizations conducted the operation between Jan. 30 and Feb 11 to deter prostitution-related activities and be a resource for victims.

“The priority of these operations was to identify and recover juveniles or adult victims of human trafficking as it relates to fraud, force or coercion as well as to provide victim outreach,” Phoenix PD said in the release.


“These events draw large crowds of people, many of them from outside of the state, and large events can create a bigger market for human trafficking and prostitution related activities. Over 100 law enforcement officers from state, local and federal agencies worked daily to address the issue of human trafficking in the Valley,” the release detailed.

The operation targeted adults attempting to pay for sex with minors, online predators, street prostitution, and sex buyer apprehension.

During the operation, a total of 348 arrests were made, with 48 of them being felonies. Of the 300 misdemeanors, 120 people were arrested for soliciting prostitution. Five child victims and one adult victim were rescued as a result of the operation, and seven guns were seized.