BIG SPRING, TX (KWES) - The Big Spring Police Department and Howard County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of the Department of Public Safety and Howard County District Attorney's Office, have just completed an operation targeting online sexual predators.
During this operation, undercover investigative personnel posted fictitious ads or profiles on various social media platforms, and websites posing as prostitutes or those soliciting prostitutes. Despite the repeated warnings and media coverage of past operations, numerous suspects responded to the ads and drove to different undercover locations to engage in illegal prostitution.
During this operation, undercover investigative personnel received messages from 90 individuals who were interested in engaging in illegal activity.
Of the 90 individuals, 9 agreed to meet and actually traveled to the undercover location for the purpose of engaging in the illegal activity at which time they were taken into custody by Law Enforcement personnel.
According to authorities, prostitution continues to thrive because of the internet and websites that condone solicitation posts and advertisements.
Police would also like to remind that prostitution is not only illegal but often associated with violent crimes, the use, and sale of illegal drugs and human trafficking which in many cases, targets children.
Howard County Law Enforcement is committed to enforcing these laws and arresting those who choose to engage in this type of illegal activity.
