The Warren Police Department arrested 46 people this week in connection with the department's human trafficking and prostitution sting. During the second sweep, coined "Operation Crusade II," law enforcement discovered prostitutes are being used to sell narcotics. This is a multiphase operation which is cracking down on human trafficking, prostitution, pandering and the illegal sale of drugs, said Dwyer. They themselves are now selling drugs to others and getting them enslaved as well.
After a three-day operation, 25 women and 21 men from metro Detroit were arrested. Dwyer said there were a total of charges β 31 felonies and 72 misdemeanors β which include transporting of prostitutes, accepting the earnings of a prostitute, house of prostitution, possession of controlled substance, computer use in crime, soliciting prostitution and possession of narcotic equipment.
Police Detective Craig Bankowski confirmed that the police department still "has a strong partnership with our hotels in the city of Warren to share information or report suspicious activity. The police went into the raids with specific targets β because of that partnership β as well as unknown targets.
The most recent sweep was done in both hotels and and multi-family apartment complexes, according to Bankowski. In response to the arrests, state Rep. I am tremendously grateful for the work done by Warren Police Commissioner William Dwyer, and all our brave men and women in uniform for their efforts in breaking up this widespread trafficking ring. My colleagues and I stand ready to provide whatever support we can to finally eliminate human trafficking in Michigan once and for all.
In the first part of the operation, 17 women and 18 men were arrested in May as part of what Dwyer called "modern-day slavery. Over the two operations there have been a total of arrests, and felony and misdemeanor charges so far.
