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WSP sex sting rescues 5 trafficking survivors

In one afternoon, investigators rescued five women who say they were being forced to be sex slaves.

The Washington State Patrol continue their ongoing busts targeting human trafficking along I-5.

Investigators set up shop Tuesday afternoon at the Love’s Truck Stop in Lewis County. An undercover detective went online posing as someone who wanted to meet a woman for sex.

Five women, each escorted by a man, showed up at the truck stop over the course of six hours. All ten were arrested, but investigators released the women after determining they were victims of sex traffickers.

Jeri Moomaw runs an advocacy organization for trafficking survivors in Olympia and says most woman, and some men, get forced into work when they’re teens.

“If they don’t have a stable support system to surround them, they’re so much more vulnerable. I hear it over and over and over again,” said Moomaw.

Moomaw is grateful the state patrol is increasing its undercover efforts, but she says the industry will only truly suffer when the culture changes, “ This is not the oldest profession… it’s the oldest oppression.”

WSP says advocates from the FBI were on hand Tuesday to provide victims with food, water, and support services.

Tuesday was WSP’s second operation in 2018.

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