Houston Police Have Busted 25 In Prostitution Stings This Month

Houston officials have arrested and charged 25 people in connection with a prostitution initiative over the last month in Southeast Houston, the department announced Friday.

Investigators with the Houston Police Department’s Vice Division and the HPD Southeast Patrol Differential Response Team conducted three separate “initiatives” in the 8300 block of the Gulf Freeway between November 19 and December 15, police said.

It is unclear exactly what the initiatives entailed, and investigators were unavailable for comment Friday, but the three separate initiatives landed 25 people in jail — 24 males attempting to buy sex and one female soliciting prostitution.

“HPD’s goal is to lower the demand for sex trafficking, which often involves under-age girls and women being abused and coerced into prostitution,” a police press release said. “By targeting patrons, the hope is to reduce demand for these illegal activities and the exploited women forced into them.”

According to Houston Police’s website, the Vice Division’s prostitution squad “investigates escort services, massage parlors, modeling studios, and topless clubs that are suspected of fronting prostitution. They are also responsible for conducting street prostitution stings in conjunction with the appropriate Division Tactical Unit.”

See a photo gallery of the 25 arrested below, courtesy of Houston Police: