The big picture
Precinct 3 Constable Ryan Gable said his department and the Houston Police Department have collaborated on the effort along with the Human Trafficking Rescue Alliance and the members of the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force with backing from the Montgomery County District Attorney's office.
The ICAC effort that took place in the past month recently contributed to these efforts, which occur in many instances through online and social media platforms, he said.
"The internet has evolved into significant platform for offenders who exploit children and traffic victims for sexual purposes. By integrating human trafficking and ICAC investigations, we utilize digital forensics and online tracking to uncover trafficking networks, while insights from trafficking cases improve ICAC's ability to identify victims," Gable said.
How it happened
Gable said recent efforts included a three-day operation that resulted in identifying traffickers as well as the following felonies:
- 7 prostitution arrests
- 3 promotion of prostitution arrests
- 4 online solicitation of a minor arrests, including capture of a registered child sex offender
- 1 unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon arrest
- 1 child trafficking arrest
- 1 evading law enforcement arrest
- 1 possession of a prohibited weapon arrest
- 2 drug offense arrests
Gable thanked the Department of Public Safety; Texas Rangers; Montgomery County constables, precincts 1, 2, 4 and 5; Humble Police Department; and LaPorte Police Department, as well as nongovernmental organizations such as the YMCA and victim assistance organizations for collaboration in the operation.
Freddy Croft, a lieutenant with the Houston Police Department Special Victims division and commander for the Houston Metro ICAC Task Force, said online exploitation has increased 500% over the past decade in the number of crimes reported to HPD.
"Before COVID[-19], we were getting about 3,000 cases reported to us. In the past two years, we've gotten over 20,000 cases reported to us," he said. "So with the exponential rise of this, we're coming up with new and creative ways to tackle these problems."
What they're saying
"When we join forces ... we send a loud and clear message to both survivors and traffickers," said Salam Zia, commander with the Houston Police Department Vice Division. "To the survivors, our collaboration says you are not alone, we see, and we are working tirelessly to protect you and hold those that have harmed you accountable, and to the traffickers, we make it clear, there will be no safe haven for you."
"We are committed to seeking justice on behalf of every single victim of human trafficking, and we will see to it that these offenders are put where they belong," said Donna Hansen, special victims division chief with the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office.
