Twenty-four suspects arrested in child and human trafficking operation
The Mesa Police Department arrested 24 suspects tied to child and human sex trafficking.
Mesa Police Detectives partnered with Tempe, Gilbert, Chandler Police Departments as well as the Attorney General’s Office for Operation Degrossting, an undercover operation targeting the demand for child sex crimes and human trafficking.
Over six days officers and undercover detectives placed ads on websites commonly sought out by suspects seeking illegal sex acts. The 24 suspects arrested solicited and/or brokered deals for various sex acts and were subsequently arrested.
Each year the Mesa Police Department conducts operations of this type in a continuous effort to reduce the demand that fuels child and human sex trafficking from our community. The suspects in the latest operation ranged in age from 21 to 80 years old. “Crimes involving children are of the highest priority and I appreciate our partnership with all the agencies involved in the successful removal of these dangerous child predators from our community” said Chief Ramon Batista.
The Mesa Police Department partners with organizations and survivor advocates to assist victims after being exploited or trafficked. If you have information about someone being trafficked, contact your local police department or the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or humantraffickinghotline.org Our partnership with the Hickey Family Foundation, Empire Southwest, and Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) was crucial to the success of this investigation. For more information about human exploitation and trafficking, please visit http://mesaaz.gov/residents/police/departments-divisions/mesa-family-advocacy-center/heat
