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FIRST RESPONDERS

Sex crimes, trafficking operation nabs 350 suspects in 5 Valley cities

2-week effort focused on Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Glendale

Posted 2/20/23

Hundreds of arrests were made in five Valley cities over two event-filled weeks as part of an effort to crack down on sex crimes and trafficking.

Five different law enforcement operations took …

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FIRST RESPONDERS

Sex crimes, trafficking operation nabs 350 suspects in 5 Valley cities

2-week effort focused on Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Glendale

Posted

Hundreds of arrests were made in five Valley cities over two event-filled weeks as part of an effort to crack down on sex crimes and trafficking.

Five different law enforcement operations took place between Jan. 30 and Feb. 11 in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Glendale, according to a release from the Phoenix Police Department.

“Over 100 law enforcement officers from state, local and federal agencies worked daily to address the issue of human trafficking in the Valley,” officials said in the release.  “The various operations targeted adults attempting to pay for sex with minors, online predators, street prostitution interdiction and sex-buyer apprehension.

"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.”

Authorities did not release the names of any of those arrested with the release.

The effort, which covered the period when the Super Bowl, WM Phoenix Open and Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction were taking place, resulted in 48 felony arrests and 300 misdemeanor arrests - 120 of them were sex buyers, according to the release.

“Five juveniles and one adult victim were recovered, and seven firearms were taken off the streets,” officials said.

Those who were identified as potential traffickers are being further investigated by either state, local and/or federal agencies, authorities said.