WINSTON-SALEM (AP) — Police have arrested 30 people in Winston-Salem on sex trafficking charges resulting from an investigation spanning more than four years.
Winston-Salem Police said its special investigations division launched an investigation in August 2009 into allegations of organized prostitution. State and federal law enforcement also joined the investigation.
A statement from police Thursday said the investigation ended in January, and identified at least five foreign nationals, including one minor, as victims of sex trafficking and who were trafficked at locations in Winston-Salem.
In all, 40 people have been arrested on state and federal charges. Police said 25 brothels were identified in North Carolina, nine of which were in Winston-Salem.