TAMPA, Fla. — A 5-month Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office undercover investigation on human trafficking has resulted in more than 100 arrests for prostitution.
- Human Trafficking sting in Hillsborough County
- 104 people arrested between June and November in connection with prostitution
- Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister: "Human trafficking will not be tolerated"
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said the sting, called Operation Trade Secrets 2, resulted in 104 arrests. Chronister said the investigation focused on eradicating human trafficking in the county.
During the investigation, which ran from June to November, several male and female detectives posed as johns and prostitutes. The sheriff said 76 of the people arrested were men trying to buy sex with women and underage girls.
"Like any business, the human trafficking industry boils down to supply and demand," Chronister said. "I strongly believe that in order to eradicate human trafficking we must continue to focus on reducing the demand."
One of the men arrested, 29-year-old Steven Cook, is a suspected Latin Kings gang member and is accused of trafficking women out of a local motel.