As we’ve reported before, large sporting events are often rife with sex traffickers – bringing their captives in to a cash rich environment where they can rent a block of rooms and reap quick profits.
As reported by Avery Williams at Fox 19 Now News in Cleveland, eight people were arrested in a trafficking sting over the NBA All Star Weekend.
The bust, called Operation Fouled Out, was led by the Cuyahoga Regional Human Trafficking Task Force in the days ahead of Sunday’s game, according to a news release.
According to the release, authorities tracked down 15 people reportedly selling sex and connected potential victims of human trafficking to health-care and social services organizations.
“We are proud to showcase our city to the nation and world on this All-Star weekend, but we want to be clear that sexual violence and human trafficking have no place here. We applaud the agencies that work collaboratively to hold sex offenders accountable today and every day.”
Sondra Miller, President and CEO of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center
“Law enforcement operations like Operation Fouled Out are not successful without the work of many stakeholders. With our strong partnerships not only here in Cuyahoga County but across the state of Ohio, we stand ready to act not only in combatting this crime but to assist victims in their identification and connecting them with resources that specialize in human trafficking victims’ needs.”
Sheriff Christopher Viland, Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department
Dozens of agencies were involved in the planning and execution of this operation:
- Cuyahoga Regional Human Trafficking Task Force,
- Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department,
- Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office,
- Homeland Security Investigations,
- Mahoning Valley Human Trafficking Task Force,
- Bureau of Criminal Investigation,
- Ohio Investigative Unit,
- Ohio Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force,
- Cleveland Division of Police,
- Middleburg Heights Police Department,
- Warrensville Heights Police Department,
- MetroHealth Police Department,
- Chagrin Valley Dispatch,
- Cleveland Rape Crisis Center,
- Canopy Child Advocacy Center.
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Stock Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels
