Dallas Police say two people have been arrested as part of an investigation into human trafficking, and six victims have come forward. Police say the arrests followed an investigation involving the department's financial crimes, fugitive, gang, narcotics and vice units.
Dallas Police SWAT and U.S. Homeland Security investigators also worked on the case.
"We can't do this alone," says Lt. Lisette Rivera with the Dallas Police Vice Unit. "This requires a lot of resources, a lot of manpower."
Rivera says two women came to Dallas Police several months ago and said they were victims of sex trafficking.
"They were brave enough to come forward and tell their story about being forced," she says. "It is never easy to have someone sit down with us and talk about some of the worst moments of their life. Unfortunately, we can't move forward with an investigation unless we have these victims come tell us their stories."
The investigation led to two arrests at an apartment complex on Arapaho Road in North Dallas Friday, and four other women have come forward. The two people who were arrested have been charged with compelling prostitution and human trafficking.
Rivera says the victims were lured through job offers posted on social media. She says Texas ranks second only to California in the number of human trafficking cases.
Rivera says traffickers will place ads to target people who are food or housing insecure and looking for work.
"We've always had a problem. The difference is now there is more education, and there is more public awareness," she says.
Rivera says the non-profit, Mosaic Family Services, is now working with the victims.
She urges people who are victims of human trafficking to call 911 or the Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888. Rivera says operators do not ask about immigration status when someone calls to report a crime.
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