The Montana Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), in collaboration with the Missoula County Sheriff's Office and the Missoula Police Department, carried out a human trafficking operation in Missoula this week. The operation resulted in the arrest of eight individuals, as announced by Attorney General Austin Knudsen.
The arrested individuals face charges for patronizing a prostitute, with one individual also facing charges for distributing dangerous drugs. These arrests are under Montana's new statute from House Bill 112, which classifies solicitation of a prostitute as a felony. This legislation was co-authored by Attorney General Knudsen during the 2023 Legislative Session.
"Human trafficking is a heinous crime and must be stopped. I am proud of our DCI investigators and law enforcement partners for their commitment to getting these dangerous predators off the streets. Ending human trafficking remains a priority for the Montana Department of Justice. We must tell human traffickers that their criminal activity will not be tolerated in Montana," stated Attorney General Knudsen.
Missoula County Sheriff Jeremiah Petersen commented on the broader implications: "This behavior is not only illegal but poses many risks to our communities such as Human Trafficking of both adults and children," he said. "The great work done this week with our law enforcement partners creates safer communities for both children and adults."