COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – A statewide human trafficking crackdown in Ohio led to 122 arrests, including dozens of people accused of attempting to buy sex from minors, Attorney General Dave Yost announced.
Operation Spring Cleaning, led by the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, took place May 13-20 across 15 counties.
Authorities said 84 people accused of seeking to buy sex were arrested on solicitation or prostitution-related charges, while 38 others faced felony charges including trafficking in persons, promoting prostitution, attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and drug offenses.
“This operation brings us to 1,065 arrests since our statewide stings began in 2019,” Yost said in a media release. “It shows the problem isn’t going away.”
Investigators also executed 15 search warrants tied to suspected human trafficking operations at massage parlors across Ohio and seized more than $120,000 in cash.
Officials said 42 human trafficking survivors were connected with health care and social service organizations during the operation.
Among those arrested were a Cleveland firefighter, several men accused of attempting to meet minors for sex and suspects facing trafficking, prostitution and child exploitation-related charges.
The investigations remain ongoing.
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