AUSTIN, Texas — Austin police arrested 21 people and recovered two human trafficking victims, including a minor, during a recent commercial sex enforcement operation, the Austin Police Department said.
Among those arrested, 20 people face state jail felony charges for solicitation of prostitution. One person was arrested on a second-degree felony charge for solicitation of prostitution of a child, and separate drug charges were filed against two others. Officers also seized two firearms and an undisclosed amount of marijuana.
Investigators recovered one adult and one child who were identified as trafficking victims and connected them with support services. A third potential trafficking victim was identified during the operation, and outreach efforts are ongoing, APD said.
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Detectives also identified two previously unknown suspected traffickers. Investigations into both suspects have been initiated, according to the department.
APD said the operation is part of its periodic enforcement efforts targeting buyers of commercial sex.
“While there is a common perception that sex workers follow large-scale events, that has not been APD’s experience in Austin,” the department said. “These operations are not driven solely by major events, but rather by investigative leads, identified trends, and public safety priorities.”
The department emphasized that arresting buyers, while important, is secondary to the broader goal of identifying and assisting trafficking victims.
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“The primary focus remains on the more complex and critical task of identifying and recovering victims of human trafficking,” APD said.