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.
RELATED: Super Bowl Sting: 33 arrested for sex trafficking
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.
Support real journalism. Support local journalism. Subscribe to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution today. See offers.
Your subscription to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution funds in-depth reporting and investigations that keep you informed. Thank you for supporting real journalism.