16 arrested in Douglasville on sex trafficking charges

Authorities in Douglas County last week arrested 16 people who were allegedly part of a human sex trafficking ring, police said.

The stings happened last Wednesday and Thursday, dates that were "specifically selected to be near the Super Bowl," the Douglasville Police Department said in a post on Facebook.

Some advocates say there is a spike in human sex trafficking in the Super Bowl’s host city on the days surrounding the big game.

IN-DEPTH: Experts warn of trafficking ahead of Super Bowl 53

Police have not released the identities of the people arrested, but said they face charges including prostitution, pimping, pandering, human trafficking and drug offenses.

MORE: Torpy at Large: Sexual slavery and myth-making at the Super Bowl

Local and federal authorities used “undercover officers, social media sites and local hotel rooms” to make the arrests, police said.

Dozens of school buses made a major statement to combat human trafficking in the heart of Atlanta

About the Author

Georgia honors women in uniform amid debate over their roles in combat

Females in uniform like Amy Stevens are being recognized in Atlanta parade, history exhibit and Georgia hall of fame before Veterans Day as combat roles for women are debated.

UPS warns of delivery delays after its plane crash at Louisville hub

The disruption of operations at UPS’ largest hub continues to have some effects, while an investigation and recovery operation continue at the Louisville crash site.

Louisville plane crash response in ‘recovery mode,’ UPS operations disrupted

12 are confirmed dead, believed to include a child, according to Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. They do not expect to find survivors at this point, he said.

The Latest