Over 100 were apprehended following a weeks-long investigation in the Valley aimed at combating child exploitation and sex trafficking.
According to Scottsdale police, 173 were arrested between Jan. 21 and Feb. 14 as part of an operation headed by the agency’s trafficking unit. The proactive operation aimed to identify “sex buyers” and “child predators,” the agency stated.
The operation was “decoy-based” and did not involve any real children.
Suspects arrested face a range of accusations, including attempted sexual activity with a minor, luring a minor for exploitation, prostitution-related offenses, and child sex trafficking.
The effort also engaged several other Valley police departments.