Utah officials have arrested 21 individuals and rescued three victims as part of its Human Trafficking Rescue Operation conducted in February, the Utah County Sheriff’s Office (UCSO) announced. The operation was conducted in partnership with Lehi, Provo, Orem, Springville, Pleasant Grove, Lindon, and Unified Police Departments, Federal Homeland Security Investigations, and the Utah Attorney General’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office said. Officials had hoped to identify and rescue people who were “caught in the trap that is human trafficking or sex trafficking.” Utah County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Jason Randall said at a press conference on Thursday that undercover officers had posted on social media platforms and responded to advertisements as part of the operation. They then set up a meeting place in the northern part of Utah County and promptly arrested the suspects as they arrived. Some of these men reportedly arrived believing they would be meeting with a 13-year-old girl. In total, officers arrested 21 people on a variety …
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