KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An Independence Police Department human trafficking and prostitution sting last week netted 21 arrests and the rescue of a trafficking victim.
The department’s Criminal Investigations Unit 520 Squad, which handles sex crimes and child abuse, conducted an undercover operation Nov. 13 and 14 near the Interstate 70 and Noland Road corridor in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security personnel.
Two people were arrested for human trafficking and another for felon in possession of a firearm, which are federal crimes.
The local and state charges included 13 arrests for prostitution, one for patronizing prostitution, two for felony drug possession, five for municipal drug offenses, five for aiding the commission of a misdemeanor, one for felony fleeing, two for child endangerment and one for disorderly conduct.
The sting also cleared 26 outstanding warrants, recovered two firearms and resulted in the arrest of one sex offender.
One human trafficking victim also was rescued as a result of the operation.
There were a total of 34 charges among the 21 people arrested, and investigation of the human trafficking charges remains ongoing.
