HOUSTON – Area law enforcement agencies are cracking down on prostitution across Houston, as visitors pack into the Bayou City for Super Bowl LI.
As of Wednesday evening, 14 people had been arrested on prostitution charges in one day.
Most of the people arrested are from the Houston area, but a couple came from Florida and Georgia.
Earlier in the week, a woman from California and a woman from Tennessee were arrested at an upscale hotel near City Centre, after advertising on Backpage.com.
“These people follow all the big sporting events all over the country and come to town, then they set up shop,” said Precinct 1 Constable Alan Rosen.
Rosen said while some prostitutes are innocent victims of human trafficking, others are soliciting more than just a fun time.
“They may steal your jewelry or your wallet, and you may be harmed,” Rosen said.
He said law enforcement officers are using social media and undercover officers to locate areas across town where prostitution is going on.
“We're looking for people who are street-level prostituting, hotels, motel prostitution, and the list goes on,” Rosen said.
Besides law enforcement, there is also an organization called Airline Ambassadors International aiding in the fight against prostitution in Houston this week.
The organization trains employees in the travel and hospitality industries to spot signs of human trafficking and prostitution, then report them to authorities.