15 Busted in Duluth Sex Sting

Individuals Arrested for trying to Buy Prostitutes

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Sex trafficking is happening everywhere.

Advocates for women and children tell FOX 21 this latest bust is proof that the invisible issue also lives here in the Twin Ports.

Fourteen men were put in jail and charged for soliciting prostitution.

One of them is being held on sex trafficking counts.

A woman was also taken into custody and charged for offering prostitution services.

It comes after a two day prostitution sting spearheaded by the Duluth Police Department in coordination with the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

Authorities tell FOX 21 officers posed as prostitutes on Backpage.com luring in locals looking for sex.

“It brings to light something that is made to be so alienated from us and says no actually this is something that’s taking place right here in our community,” CASDA Sexual Assault Program Coordinator Kayden Norwood said. “Here’s an example in this case. It was 15 people who were arrested for this, that’s a lot of people.”

Advocates say sex trafficking and prostitution are fairly large issues in the Twin Ports community.

People are able to be trafficked from this area up to Thunder Bay and down to the Twin Cities very easily because of the port system.

If you are or know someone is who being trafficked, CASDA, PAVSA or the Lake Superior Drug and Violent Crime Task Force are just a few agencies you can call.