Police in Howard County, Md., are using Internet ads to crack down on sex trafficking.
The undercover sting got under way this week.
Detectives answered ads for women offering services on the website Backpage.com. They arranged meetings with women on Monday.
During the meeting, the women who offered sex for money were arrested. As a result of the sting, four women were charged with prostitution. All four have addresses that are out-of-state.
No arrests were made for sex trafficking. However, Howard County investigators hope some of the women arrested can help them track down pimps. They are specifically looking for men who bring women across state lines.
“If we can bring some of these women into our custody, maybe we have a chance of helping them break free from this lifestyle and the men who often control it,” said Police Chief William McMahon.
