Seven arrested in sex trafficking sting

MENOMINEE — Seven men were arrested Thursday during a joint operation in northern Menominee County aimed at reducing the demand for sex trafficking, according to a statement Monday from the Upper Peninsula Substance Enforcement Team.

“Law enforcement agencies initiated the operation by placing online advertisements on websites used for prostitution,” said the press release. “During the investigation 32 individuals responded to the website advertisements.”

Seven men followed through and met with an undercover detective, who posed as a prostitute, to pay for services, according to the release. All seven men were subsequently arrested for prostitution/engaging in services and using computers-internet to commit crime and lodged at the Menominee County Jail.

The names of the men are being withheld pending their arraignment.

“The main purpose of the operation was to reduce the demand for sex trafficking and to identify possible victims by gathering intelligence from those responding to the online advertisements,” the release said. “The men responding to online advertisements have no way of knowing if they are paying for sex from a victim of human trafficking, an alleged willing participant, or an undercover detective. Either way, those responding to advertisements are creating the demand that fuels sex trafficking.”

The operation was a collaborative effort between the UPSET, the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Division of Drug Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, Hannahville Tribal Police Department, Michigan State Police Homeland Security Team, and the Michigan State Police Computer Crimes Unit.

—Daily Globe staff