Fort Collins police arrested five men during an undercover prostitution sting last week aimed, in part, at targeting sex trafficking.
Law enforcement agencies across Colorado have been using similar operations over the last two years in an effort to reduce demand for the commercial sex trade.
In the Friday operation in Fort Collins, officers placed ads in the escort sections of Internet sites popular among sex buyers, including Backpage and Craigslist.
“When prospective clients responded to the ads, officers posing as prostitutes arranged appointments at a local hotel,” Fort Collins police said in a news release. “The men, expecting to exchange money for various sexual acts, arrived to find an empty room. Upon leaving, they were greeted by officers waiting outside.”
Authorities in Fort Collins say they plan to continue similar enforcement efforts and will adapt their approach as the commercial sex market evolves.
“We’ve definitely noticed a decrease in prostitution activity since we’ve started conducting these operations,” Officer Annie Hill, who helped organize the sting, said in a statement.
Investigators did not release the names of the men arrested.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
