A recent joint operation called “Operation April Fools” resulted in the arrest of 42 individuals over a two-day period, the Lake Worth Police Department stated in a Wednesday press release.

Lake Worth Police, in partnership with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Dallas, made the arrests between April 11 and 12 as part of an effort to combat human trafficking in the area.

To conduct the operation, police officers went undercover as escorts and prostitutes. When people arrived to meet them in person, they were apprehended by the authorities. The operation primarily targeted suspects allegedly attempting to engage in prostitution within the city of Lake Worth.

The 42 people arrested included 41 men and one woman, none of whom were residents of Lake Worth.

Lake Worth Police Chief J.T. Manoushagian explained at a press conference on Wednesday that the arrested individuals came from all walks of life, and some had no prior criminal record. Others, however, had a long history of criminal behavior.

Lake Worth PD posted the names and faces of the arrested suspects on its Facebook page. The suspects were charged with solicitation of prostitution, which is a state jail felony that can result in up to a $10,000 fine and two years in jail.

Chief Manoushagian said that after operations like this one are made public, residents may start to question whether their city has a human trafficking problem.

He noted that while there is not a human trafficking problem specific to Lake Worth, human trafficking is a problem that exists everywhere, whether it is visible or not.

Given that Texas is part of the U.S.-Mexico border, it is a bigger problem in this state than elsewhere in the country, he suggested.

Many people who cross the border have to pay a debt, and traffickers may sell people into slavery to collect that debt, he explained. As a result, Manoushagian believes that many of those who engage in prostitution may be victims of human trafficking.

The joint operation between Lake Worth Police and HSI Dallas represents an important step in combating human trafficking in the area. Through this operation, authorities hope to raise awareness about the problem of human trafficking and bring perpetrators to justice.

While the issue remains complex, efforts like these are vital in securing the safety and security of local communities.